HRD to Allow Govt Deemed Universities to Have More Than 6 Campuses

The UGC came up with the proposal to allow government deemed universities to have more than six off- campus centres and this proposal has now been passed by the Union HRD ministry.

Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, is one such institution and has been benefited by the passing of the proposal.

However the change is only for government deemed universities and private universities won't be affected and would be permitted only a maximum of six campuses beyond approved geographical boundaries, HRD ministry officials said.

Several leading institutions including the Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS), Pilani, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, Banasthali University (Rajasthan), Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBMI), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research are learnt to have been issued notices by the UGC over over issues related to their off-campus centres.

Another proposal passed by the HRD Ministry is regarding the criteria for appointment of Vice Chancellors. The changes are basically in the eligibility criteria.

Now a candidate to be appointed a Vice Chancellor of a deemed University should have a minimum ten years of experience as professor in University system or ten years of equivalent experience in a reputed research or academic organisation.

"The Commission (UGC) had in a recent meeting approved these amendments in the UGC regulations for deemed institutions which have found concurrence of the ministry," a senior HRD ministry official said.