University Grants Commission (India)

The University Grants Commission of India is a statutory organisation set up by Union government in 1956, for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of university education. It provides recognition for universities in India, and provides funds for government-recognised universities and colleges. Its headquarters are in New Delhi, and six regional centres in Pune, Bhopal, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Guwahati and Bangalore.

In 2009, the Union Minister of Education made open the government of India's plans to close down UGC and the related body AICTE - due to corruption and inefficiency charges against the bodies - in favour of a higher regulatory body with more sweeping powers.

History
UGC was recommended in 1944 and formed in 1945 to oversee the work of the three Central Universities of Aligarh, Banaras and, Delhi. In 1947, the Committee was entrusted with the responsibility of dealing with all the then existing Universities. After independence, the University Education Commission was set up in 1948 under the Chairmanship of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and it recommended that the UGC  be reconstituted on the general model of the University Grants Commission of the United Kingdom.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) was formally inaugurated by late Abul Kalam Azad, the then Minister of Education, Natural Resources and Scientific Research on 28 December 1953.

However UGC was formally established in November 1956, by an Act of Parliament in 1956, as a statutory body of the Government of India. In order to ensure effective region-wise coverage throughout the country, the UGC has decentralised its operations by setting up six regional centres at Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bhopal, Guwahati and Bangalore. The head office of the UGC is located at Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg in New Delhi, with two additional bureaus operating from 35, Feroze Shah Road and the South Campus of University of Delhi as well.

Professional councils
UGC currently conducts NET for the appointments of teachers in colleges and universities. NET qualification has been exempted to those having M.Phil for teaching at Graduation level and to those having Ph.D for teaching at Post Graduation level since June 2006.

Accreditation for higher learning is overseen by following fifteen autonomous institutions established by the University Grants Commission:.


 * All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)
 * Distance Education Council (DEC)
 * Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
 * Bar Council of India (BCI)
 * National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE)
 * Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI)
 * Medical Council of India (MCI)
 * Pharmacy Council of India (PCI)
 * Indian Nursing Council (INC)
 * Dental Council of India (DCI)
 * Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH)
 * Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM)
 * Rehabilitation Council
 * National Council for Rural Institutes
 * State Councils of Higher Education