UGC proposes making NIRF ranking, NAAC accreditation must for colleges to receive grants

NEW DELHI: New rules drafted by the University Grants Commission (UGC) will require colleges to participate in rating or ranking exercises of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), NationalBoard of Accreditation (NBA), or the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) to be eligible for UGC funds. Plus, colleges must have and have at least 75% of the sanctioned teaching strength filled and pay teachers on the central and state salary scale to be eligible.

The “UGC (Fitness of Colleges for Receiving Grants) Rules, 2024” are set to replace the much-shorter 1975 rules and were made public for comment on January 27. The UGC has changed the rules under provisions of the existing UGC Act.

“These are prospective criteria required for institutions to receive grants from the UGC. More colleges desirous of obtaining grants can apply. The proposed changes in 12B rules are grounded on three key principles. First, expansion of eligibility to more colleges. The second is related to teaching quality by insisting on filling the teaching positions and adhering to UGC/state government salary scales. Third, making efficient processing of applications and ensuring strong checkpoints in case of violations. These revisions aim to enhance efficiency and accountability within the system,” UGC chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar told Careers360.

The submission of applications and processing will be online. This expansion is for colleges affiliated to non-12B universities too. Non-12B universities are those which are not eligible to receive grants from UGC. Some of the rules are also intended to bring the system in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The draft is open for comment till March 4.

UGC Rules: Teacher salary, NIRF ranking

These are the new rules the the UGC has proposed:

• Teacher Vacancy: For colleges offering more than three programmes to receive funds, at least 60% of the total eligible programmes must be accredited. In case the number of programmes being offered is less than three, every programme must be accredited.
• Teacher salary: Colleges should adhere to UGC scales or state government norms for teacher salaries and must adhere to the reservation policy of the central and state governments. The compliance with all UGC rules and regulations is mandatory.
• NIRF ranking: The college must figure in the NIRF ranking in the respective category. It must figure in the ranking list at least three times if it has participated five times; if it has participated just three times, it must figure in the list twice. The NIRF does not rank every institution that participates, only the top ones.
• Institute Development Plan (IDP): The college must have an IDP to formulate its development proposals. The college or sponsoring body must have adequate financial resources of its own to meet the operational requirements.
• College fees: Students must be charged only what the authority at the central, state or university-level prescribes. No other fees must be charged.

Also read 80% increase in ST female student enrolment since 2014-15: AISHE 2021-22

UGC portal, role of university

Colleges must submit certificates to support their claims with their application for grants and these must be endorsed by the university.

The concerned university shall examine the application of the college for 12B status on the UGC portal and give its recommendations, supported by reasons or justifications, within 60 working days from the date of submission of the application on the UGC portal.

If the university does not respond on the UGC portal within 60 working days, it shall be presumed that the university has no objection to the processing of the application.

Thus far, NAAC accreditation was compulsory for receiving funds under certain schemes of the central government such as the Rashtriya Ucchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), which supports state institutions. NAAC accreditation and NIRF Ranking are also essential for benefitting under other central government initiatives including the graded-autonomy scheme and the Institution of Eminence scheme.

UGC funds, college inspection

The UGC or a team constituted by it may conduct a physical or virtual verification of the institution during the process of application, of recognition or after receiving any complaint.

The commission may withdraw recognition if the college fails to rectify the deficiencies pointed out after verification. In case colleges violate rules, the UGC will act to remove the colleges from the list of recognised colleges.

The colleges and their sponsors have to guarantee through undertakings that they will return unused funds to the UGC or any other grant-making government agency.