UGC Invites Feedback on New Draft Regulations for College Recognition

The UGC has proposed amendments to the existing regulations and formulated the draft "University Grants Commission (Recognition of Colleges under Clause (f) of Section 2 of the UGC Act) Regulations, 2023

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has put forth a call for suggestions, comments, and feedback on the proposed "UGC (Recognition of Colleges under Clause (f) of Section 2 of the UGC Act) Regulations, 2023." This notice aims to seek inputs from stakeholders and interested parties regarding the draft regulations.

The UGC has been maintaining a list of colleges falling under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956, based on the provisions outlined in the UGC (Recognition of Colleges) Regulations, 1974. However, with the advent of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the consequential transformation in higher education, the UGC aims to align its regulations accordingly.

In response to this transformative landscape, the UGC has proposed amendments to the existing regulations and formulated the draft "University Grants Commission (Recognition of Colleges under Clause (f) of Section 2 of the UGC Act) Regulations, 2023." The commission is now inviting feedback, suggestions, and comments from concerned stakeholders regarding the proposed regulations.

All interested parties are encouraged to submit their suggestions, comments, or feedback on the draft regulations to suggestions.collegesregulation@gmail.com by the deadline of 20.01.2024.

The Changes in Draft Regulations

Under the proposed draft regulations, the UGC intends to streamline the process for colleges seeking recognition, marking a significant shift from the rules in force since 2009. The new draft rules mandate inclusion under the Act for all colleges, irrespective of their affiliation status - temporary or permanent - to the concerned university.

One of the key changes highlighted in the draft rules includes transitioning the entire recognition process online, making it compulsory for colleges to apply and complete the approval process through an online portal developed specifically for this purpose. This represents a departure from the previous practice of submitting documents offline.

"The college shall apply 'online' to the Commission on its web portal developed for this purpose along with the processing fee for recognition as may be decided by the Commission from time to time," the draft regulation stated.

The proposed regulations aim to usher in a more efficient and digitized process for college recognition under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, aligning with the evolving educational landscape and emphasizing online procedures for greater accessibility and transparency.