The University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced the conferment of autonomy to eight premier universities, including Delhi University, enabling them with varying degrees of independence in their academic and administrative pursuits. This move, as per the UGC, is aimed at enhancing the quality of higher education through flexibility and innovation. The decision was publicised through a notification on the UGC’s official website, detailing the categorisation of these institutions under the UGC (Categorization of Universities (only) for Grant of Graded Autonomy) Regulations, 2018.
According to the UGC chairperson, M Jagadesh the autonomy granted to these universities is categorised into two levels—Category I and II—based on their National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) grading. The Central University of Rajasthan, Central Sanskrit University, University of Delhi, and Central University of South Bihar have been granted Category 1 autonomy, while the University of Hyderabad, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Central University of Punjab in Bathinda, and Central University of Himachal Pradesh have received Category 2 autonomy.
Autonomy, as outlined by Jagadesh, is a step towards fulfilling the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, providing educational institutions with the liberty to innovate and excel in education and research. These universities, while remaining under the purview of the UGC, will now have the freedom to initiate new courses, off-campus centers, skill development courses, research parks, and other academic programs. They can also hire foreign faculty, enrol foreign students, offer incentive-based emoluments to faculty, engage in academic collaborations, and conduct open distance learning programs.
The UGC’s initiative to grant autonomy is part of a broader endeavour to elevate the standards of higher education in India. In 2018, 60 higher education institutions were granted autonomy, including renowned institutions like Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), and Banaras Hindu University (BHU). The categorisation and grant of autonomy are based on stringent quality benchmarks, including NAAC scores and rankings in reputed global educational rankings. This policy is designed to incentivise institutions to strive for excellence and global competitiveness.
