Move to centralise, commercialise, privatise and communalise higher education

By Prakash N. Shah, Hemantkumar Shah, Dr. Kanu Khadadiya*

The Draft UGC (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2025 was circulated by the UGC on 6 January 2025. After detailed study of the ‘Draft UGC Regulations, 2025’, with deep concern and pain, AISEC would like to make statements which include the following:

Whole Draft UGC Regulations 2025 is completely based on ‘National Credit Framework (NCrF)’. This NCrF is not yet debated and validated either in both the houses of Parliament or in various legislative assemblies of states across country. It is just a draft prepared by an ‘appointed high level committee’. As enunciated by constitution, our country is a union of states and education is essentially subject matter of both centre and states.

Clause 1.6 states as follows,

"All HEIs shall, as soon as possible, but not later than six months of the coming into force of these regulations, take effective steps to amend their statutes, ordinances, or other statutory provisions governing it to bring the same in accordance with these regulations."

Is it not an open intervention and infringement on the autonomy of states and HEI? This clause shall be removed.

Clause 10.0: There are two critical aspects in it, one is about the criteria of eligibility of Vice- Chancellor post and the second is about the procedure for formation of search cum selection committee for appointing Vice- Chancellors.

Hitherto, professors having long experience of above 10 years is the basic criteria of eligibility of Vice-Chancellor post. Draft Regulations 2025 of UGC says as follows,

"… (i) a Professor in an HEI or (ii) at a senior level in reputed research or academic administrative organizations or (iii)at a senior level in industry, public administration, public policy and/or public sector undertakings, with a proven track record of significant academic or scholarly contributions, shall be eligible to be appointed as Vice-Chancellor."

This is a very dangerous move as bureaucratic approach will kill the spirit of academics. Therefore, eminent academicians only should be considered for the post of Vice-Chancellor.

The second is about the Search cum Selection Committee. Draft Regulations 2025 of UGC says as follows,

"… The following shall be the constitution of the Search cum Selection Committee.

a) a nominee of the Visitor/Chancellor, who shall be the Chairperson of the Search cum Selection Committee.

b) a nominee of the Chairman, University Grants Commission.

c) a nominee of the apex body of the university such as Syndicate/Senate/Executive Council / Board of Management/ Equivalent Body of the University."

This means that Clause 10.0 gives the supreme power at the hands of the central government while selecting Vice-Chancellors. If these UGC regulations come into practise, then this will pave the way for all out Centralisation, Commercialisation, Privatisation and Communalisation of Higher Education. Therefore, Clause 10 has to be completely dropped.

Clause 11.0: Clause 11.0 of Draft Regulations 2025 goes as follows,

"…If any HEI violates the provisions of these regulations, the Commission shall constitute an enquiry committee to look into the violations. If the violations are established by the enquiry committee set up by the Commission, the HEI shall be:

(a) Debarred from participating in UGC schemes.

(b) Debarred from offering degree programmes.

(d) Removed from the list of HEIs maintained under Sections 2(f) and 12B of UGC Act 1956.

The HEI shall be subjected to one or more of the above actions. Further, UGC may take additional punitive actions as per the decision of the Commission on a case-to-case basis."

This is rather a very autocratic provision and also derogatory for an HEI’s/universities. It is tantamount to real violation and infringement on freedom and democracy of HEI/universities. Therefore, this clause is to be dropped.

Clause 8.0: Clause 8.0 deals about contractual appointment of teachers. Clause 8.0 of Draft Regulations 2025 goes as follows,

Draft Regulations 2025 doesn’t utter a single word about long services rendered by Guest Lecturers and doesn’t show any concern on them. It just legalizes it. Contractual appointees would be subjected to the pressure of the authority of the HEIs and so to say the party in power. They would be converted into pawns at the hands of the power that be for their renewal. This would vitiate the democratic atmosphere of the campus. Therefore, this clause is to be dropped and instead UGC should insist the regularisation of teachers with immediate effect and also should arrange and provide sufficient financial grant with immediate effect.

Clauses 3.2 & 3.3: Clauses 3.2 & 3.3 would allow recruitment of teachers in disciplines/subjects of their PhD or NET/SET irrespective of their disciplines/subjects in UG & PG. Rather this will help further commercialisation of higher education and bring down whatever standard is still prevailing in higher education. This clause shall be dropped.

Clause 4.1: Clause 4.1 undermines a PG degree and makes it virtually redundant. This would also seriously hamper teaching and research. Therefore, this clause is to be dropped.

Clause 9.0: Clause 9.0 recommends creation of “Professor of Practice,” a position designed more to serve corporate interests than academy. This would ultimately lower the standard of teaching and marginalize pedagogical excellence. Therefore, to maintain standard academicians only shall be recruited as Professors. Therefore, this clause is to be dropped.

Clauses 3.8 gives emphasis on the parameters like industry-oriented or sponsored research, high-impact publications, consultancy, student internships or project supervision, Indian Knowledge system (IKS), digital content creation for MOOCs, startups etc. for recruitment of teachers. These would largely promote saffronization, privatization and commercialization of education. Therefore, this clause is to be dropped.

The fact is above all should be left to the wisdom of the respective state and Universities/HEI’s and there is no need of UGC to laydown regulations in these domains.

---

*With All-India Save Education Committee (AISEC)

Comments

Pradeep Mohapatra said…

Congratulations Gujarat Chapter of the AISEC for the right and timely step taken! Very inspiring for all of us too.

January 25, 2025

How Hindutva and the Taliban mirror each other in power and ideology

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak* The recent visit of Taliban-appointed Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to India and the warm reception extended to him by the Modi government have raised questions about India’s foreign policy direction. The decision appears to lend legitimacy to the Taliban regime, which continues to suppress democratic aspirations in Afghanistan.

Celebrating 125 yr old legacy of healthcare work of missionaries

Vilas Shende, director, Mure Memorial Hospital By Moin Qazi* Central India has been one of the most fertile belts for several unique experiments undertaken by missionaries in the field of education and healthcare. The result is a network of several well-known schools, colleges and hospitals that have woven themselves into the social landscape of the region. They have also become a byword for quality and affordable services delivered to all sections of the society. These institutions are characterised by committed and compassionate staff driven by the selfless pursuit of improving the well-being of society. This is the reason why the region has nursed and nurtured so many eminent people who occupy high positions in varied fields across the country as well as beyond. One of the fruits of this legacy is a more than century old iconic hospital that nestles in the heart of Nagpur city. Named as Mure Memorial Hospital after a British warrior who lost his life in a war while defending his cou...

History, culture and literature of Fatehpur, UP, from where Maulana Hasrat Mohani hailed

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* Maulana Hasrat Mohani was a member of the Constituent Assembly and an extremely important leader of our freedom movement. Born in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh, Hasrat Mohani's relationship with nearby district of Fatehpur is interesting and not explored much by biographers and historians. Dr Mohammad Ismail Azad Fatehpuri has written a book on Maulana Hasrat Mohani and Fatehpur. The book is in Urdu. He has just come out with another important book, 'Hindi kee Pratham Rachna: Chandayan' authored by Mulla Daud Dalmai.' During my recent visit to Fatehpur town, I had an opportunity to meet Dr Mohammad Ismail Azad Fatehpuri and recorded a conversation with him on issues of history, culture and literature of Fatehpur. Sharing this conversation here with you. Kindly click this link. --- *Human rights defender. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/vbrawat , X @freetohumanity, Skype @vbrawat

N-power plant at Mithi Virdi: CRZ nod is arbitrary, without jurisdiction

By Krishnakant* A case-appeal has been filed against the order of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and others granting CRZ clearance for establishment of intake and outfall facility for proposed 6000 MWe Nuclear Power Plant at Mithi Virdi, District Bhavnagar, Gujarat by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) vide order in F 11-23 /2014-IA- III dated March 3, 2015. The case-appeal in the National Green Tribunal at Western Bench at Pune is filed by Shaktisinh Gohil, Sarpanch of Jasapara; Hajabhai Dihora of Mithi Virdi; Jagrutiben Gohil of Jasapara; Krishnakant and Rohit Prajapati activist of the Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to the MoEF&CC, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and case is kept for hearing on August 20, 2015. Appeal No. 23 of 2015 (WZ) is filed, a...

New RTI draft rules inspired by citizen-unfriendly, overtly bureaucratic approach

By Venkatesh Nayak* The Department of Personnel and Training , Government of India has invited comments on a new set of Draft Rules (available in English only) to implement The Right to Information Act, 2005 . The RTI Rules were last amended in 2012 after a long period of consultation with various stakeholders. The Government’s move to put the draft RTI Rules out for people’s comments and suggestions for change is a welcome continuation of the tradition of public consultation. Positive aspects of the Draft RTI Rules While 60-65% of the Draft RTI Rules repeat the content of the 2012 RTI Rules, some new aspects deserve appreciation as they clarify the manner of implementation of key provisions of the RTI Act. These are: Provisions for dealing with non-compliance of the orders and directives of the Central Information Commission (CIC) by public authorities- this was missing in the 2012 RTI Rules. Non-compliance is increasingly becoming a major problem- two of my non-compliance cases are...

Urgent need to study cause of large number of natural deaths in Gulf countries

By Venkatesh Nayak* According to data tabled in Parliament in April 2018, there are 87.76 lakh (8.77 million) Indians in six Gulf countries, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While replying to an Unstarred Question (#6091) raised in the Lok Sabha, the Union Minister of State for External Affairs said, during the first half of this financial year alone (between April-September 2018), blue-collared Indian workers in these countries had remitted USD 33.47 Billion back home. Not much is known about the human cost of such earnings which swell up the country’s forex reserves quietly. My recent RTI intervention and research of proceedings in Parliament has revealed that between 2012 and mid-2018 more than 24,570 Indian Workers died in these Gulf countries. This works out to an average of more than 10 deaths per day. For every US$ 1 Billion they remitted to India during the same period there were at least 117 deaths of Indian Workers in Gulf ...

Epic war against caste system is constitutional responsibility of elected government

Edited by well-known Gujarat Dalit rights leader Martin Macwan, the book, “Bhed-Bharat: An Account of Injustice and Atrocities on Dalits and Adivasis (2014-18)” (available in English and Gujarati*) is a selection of news articles on Dalits and Adivasis (2014-2018) published by Dalit Shakti Prakashan, Ahmedabad. Preface to the book, in which Macwan seeks to answer key questions on why the book is needed today: *** The thought of compiling a book on atrocities on Dalits and thus present an overall Indian picture had occurred to me a long time ago. Absence of such a comprehensive picture is a major reason for a weak social and political consciousness among Dalits as well as non-Dalits. But gradually the idea took a different form. I found that lay readers don’t understand numbers and don’t like to read well-researched articles. The best way to reach out to them was storytelling. As I started writing in Gujarati and sharing the idea of the book with my friends, it occurred to me that while...

Caste, employment, and Bihar elections: The tragedy of Musahar child labourers

By Sunil Kumar* Bihar 's biggest festival of 'democracy'—the elections—has begun with its full clamor. The announcements from both the ruling party and the opposition create the illusion that the state's suffering will vanish in an instant, and the lives of the people of Bihar will be greatly enriched. As in every election, this time too, caste and employment are emerging as key issues. Every party is unrolling its bundle of promises. But amidst this electoral noise, there are stories that are deliberately kept 'quiet'—because both the ruling party and the opposition benefit from their silence. One such story is the death of four Musahar children.

Creative destruction? The myth of ‘better capitalism’ behind the 2025 Economics Nobel

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak * The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the 2025 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel to Joel Mokyr , Philippe Aghion , and Peter Howitt “for having explained innovation-driven economic growth .” According to the Nobel announcement on October 13 , one half of the prize goes to Professor Joel Mokyr “for having identified the prerequisites for sustained growth through technological progress ,” while the other half is shared by Professors Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt “for the theory of sustained growth through creative destruction .”

Search This Blog