Context:
The Education Minister has unveiled the UGC’s 2025 regulations, which simplify and revise the process for selecting Vice-Chancellors at universities across India.
Need for Revised Process:
- Previous regulations: Selection by a panel of 3–5 persons formed by a Search-cum-Selection Committee, but no specification on committee composition.
- New regulations: The Chancellor appoints the selection committee, applicable to state universities as well.
Key Guidelines on Appointment of Vice-Chancellors:
- Mandatory Composition of the Search-cum-Selection Committee:
- Composition is mandatory for Vice-Chancellors’ selection in universities under Central, Provincial, or State Acts.
- The Chancellor or Visitor shall constitute the Search-cum-Selection Committee, including three experts for appointing Vice-Chancellors.
- Governor’s Role as Chancellor:
- Governors, as Chancellors of state universities, now have greater control and the final say in Vice-Chancellor appointments.
- Regulation only states the Chancellor shall appoint the selection committee.
- Eligibility Criteria:
- Candidates no longer need to be professors.
- Eligible candidates: Individuals with at least ten years of senior-level experience in industry, public administration, public policy, or public sector undertakings with significant academic or scholarly contributions.
- Previous criteria: Distinguished academicians with at least ten years as a professor or in a prominent academic or research leadership role.
- Powers and Duties of Vice Chancellor:
- Principal executive and Academic officer of the University.
- Ex-officio member and Chairman of the Executive Council, Academic Council, and Finance Committee of the University.
- Transparency in Selection:
- Selection process involves advertisements in all-India newspapers and public notifications.
- Applications can be submitted through nominations or via a search process conducted by the Search-cum-Selection Committee.
- Previously: State Cabinets recommended the Chancellor’s nominee.
- Conflicts arose when Governors, as Chancellors, nominated their own candidates.
- Members of the Search-cum-Selection Committee:
- Nominee of the Visitor/Chancellor (Chairperson).
- Nominee of the Chairman of the University Grants Commission.
- Nominee of the apex body of the university (Syndicate, Senate, Executive Council, Board of Management, or equivalent body).
- Appointment Terms:
- The Chancellor or Visitor appoints the Vice-Chancellor from the panel recommended by the Search-cum-Selection Committee.
- Term: Five years or until the age of 70, whichever is earlier.
- Vice-Chancellors eligible for reappointment for one additional term, following the prescribed procedure.
- Appointments outside prescribed regulations are null and void.
- Impact of Non-Compliance:
- Universities risk exclusion from UGC schemes.
- Non-compliance may lead to loss of eligibility to offer degree programs.
- Institutions may be removed from the list of Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) maintained under Sections 2(f) and 12B of the UGC Act, 1956.
Governor’s Role in University Matters:
- In most states, the Governor serves as the ex-officio Chancellor of state universities.
- Governor’s powers and functions as Chancellor are defined by the statutes governing the universities within a particular state.
- As Governor, they act based on the advice of the Council of Ministers.
- As Chancellor, they make independent decisions regarding university matters.
Centre’s Role in Education:
- Education falls under the Concurrent List, allowing both the Centre and states to legislate.
- However, Entry 66 of the Union List grants the Centre significant authority over the coordination and determination of standards in higher education institutions.
- The University Grants Commission (UGC) plays a critical role in setting these standards, including those related to appointments in universities and colleges.
Source: TH
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
1. As per the right to education (RTE) Act, to be eligible for appointment as a teacher in a state, a person would be required to possess the minimum qualification laid down by the concerned State Council of Teacher education.
2. As per the RTE Act, for teaching primary classes, a candidate is required to pass a Teacher Eligibility Test conducted in accordance with the National Council of Teacher Education guidelines.
3. In India, more than 90% of teacher education institutions are directly under the State Governments.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2018 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 3 only
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is not correct: In 2011, the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) laid down the teacher recruitment norms for all government schools in India irrespective of the State.
Statement 3 is not correct. More than 90% of the teacher education institutions across the country are privately managed.