UGC asks colleges, universities to submit number of children benefited from supernumerary seats

NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked colleges and universities to submit the number of students who benefited from the creation of supernumerary seats. The direction comes from the ministry of education. The commission asked the higher education institutions to submit the status on the University Activity Monitoring Portal – uamp.ugc.ac.in.

“In continuation of the UGC letter, the Ministry of Education has requested to submit the status of the children benefited from the creation of supernumerary seats,” UGC said in an official notice.

Also Read | UGC drafts guidelines on starting Indian heritage and culture courses, enrolling artists in HEIs

In March last year, UGC advised the colleges and universities across the country to create supernumerary seats for children who lost both their parents during COVID-19 pandemic and come under the PM CARES for children scheme.

“All the higher education institutions (HEIs) are advised to create supernumerary seats to accommodate such children to pursue their higher education, whenever they become eligible,” said UGC then.

Also Read | AICTE to lift ban on new engineering colleges, improve admissions in core branches

The commission had further said that the Ministry of Women and Child Development was trying to identify such children with the help of the district magistrates of all the states, and union territories (UTs), so as to extend all possible support to those children. Those children were issued a PM Cares for Children scheme 2021 certificate.