UGC to Grant 4071 Colleges

<p>The University Grants Commission (UGC) has provided grants to 4071 colleges declared eligible, under Section 12B of the UGC act, 1956 under College Development Scheme, during 2013-14.

The UGC has reported that it does not provide development grants to any self-financing, purely private funded colleges. The UGC under its various schemes releases grants to colleges to improve access and quality of higher education.

The UGC provided grants to self-financing colleges only under its student and teacher centric schemes; these colleges are not eligible to receive development grants from the UGC.

As per the UGC regulations, 2012, notified on January 19, 2013, it is mandatory for each college to get accredited by an accreditation agency after passing out of two batches or six years, whichever is earlier, in accordance with the norms and methodology prescribed by such agency or the commission, as the case may be.

Further as per these regulations, every college, which has completed six years of existence or two batches having passed out, whichever is earlier, has to apply within six months from the date of coming into force of these regulations, to the accreditation agency, for accreditation.

Apart from making assessment and accreditation mandatory for higher educational institutions, the UGC has already laid down minimum standards of instruction for the grant of first degree, master's degree and M Phil/PhD degree.

It has also laid down minimum qualifications for the appointment of teachers and academic staff in universities and colleges.
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