POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY GRANT COMMISSION

University Grants Commission [ACT 3 CHAPTER III

POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION

12. It shall be the general duty of the Commission to take, in consultation with the Universities or other bodies concerned, all such steps as it may think fit for the promotion and co-ordination of University education and for the determination and maintenance of standards of teaching, examination and research in Universities, and for the purpose of performing its functions under this Act, the Commission may-

(a) inquire into the financial needs of Universities;

(b) allocate and disburse, out of the Fund of the Commission, grants to Universities established or incorporated by or under a Central Act for the maintenance and development of such

Universities or for any other general or specified purpose;

(c) allocate and disburse, out of the Fund of the Commission, such grants to other Universities as it may deem 1

[necessary or appropriate for the development of such Universities or for the maintenance, or development, or both, of any specified activities of such Universities] or for any other general or specified purpose:

Provided that in making any grant to any

such University, the Commission shall give due consideration to the development of the University concerned, its financial needs, the standard attained by it and the national purposes which it may serve, 2[(cc) allocate and disburse out of the Fund of the Commission, such grants to institution deemed to be Universities in pursuance of a declaration made by the Central Government under section

3, as it may deem necessary, for one or more of the following purposes, namely:-

(i) for maintenance in special cases,

(ii) for development,

(iii) for any other general or specified purpose;] Functions of the Commission

1. Subs. by Act 33 of 1972, s. 5, for certain words (w.e.f. 17-6-1972)

2. Ins. by s. 5, ibid. (w.e.f 17-6-1972) 

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1[“(ccc) establish, in accordance with the regulations made under this Act, institutions for providing common facilities, services and programmes for a group of universities or for the universities in general and maintain such institutions or provide for their maintenance by allocating and, disbursing out of the Fund of the Commission such grants as the Commission may deem necessary”.]

(d) recommend to any University the measures necessary for the improvement of University education and advise the University upon the action to be taken for the purpose of implementing such recommendation;

(e) advise the Central Government or any State Government on the allocation of any grants to Universities for any general or specified purpose out of the Consolidated Fund of India or the Consolidated Fund of the State, as the case may be;

(f) advise any authority, if such advice is asked for, on the establishment of a new University or on proposals connected with the expansion of the activities of any University;

(g) advise the Central Government or any State Government or University on any question which may be referred to the Commission by the Central Government or the State Government or the University, as the case may be;

(h) collect information on all such matters relating to University education in India and other countries as it thinks fit and make the same available to any University;

(i) require a University to furnish it with such

information as may be needed relating to the

financial position of the University or the studies in the various branches of learning undertaken in that University, together with all the rules and regulations relating to the standards of teaching and examination in that University respecting each of such branches of learning;

(j) perform such other functions as may be

prescribed or as may be deemed necessary by the Commission for advancing the cause of higher (Chapter III-Powers and Functions of the Commission)

1. Ins. by Act 59 of 1984 (w.e.f. 1-10-1984) 

University Grants Commission [ACT 3

education in India or as may be incidental or

conducive to the discharge of the above functions.

[(12A*)(1) In this section

(a) “affiliation” together with its grammatical

variations, includes, in relation to a college,

recognition of such college by, association

of such college with, and admission of such

college to the privileges of, a university;

(b) “college” means any institution, whether

known as such or by any other name which

provides for a course of study for obtaining

any qualification from a university and which,

in accordance with the rules and regulations

of such university, is recognised as

competent to provide for such course of

study and present students undergoing such

course of study for the examination for the

award of such qualification;

(c) “prosecution” in relation to a course of study,includes promotion from one part or stage of the course of study to another part or stage of the course of study;

(d) “qualification” means a degree or any other qualification awarded by a university;

(e) “regulations” means regulations made under this Act;

(f) “specified course of study” means a course

of study in respect of which regulations of

the nature mentioned in sub-section (2) have

been made;

(g) “student” includes a person seeking

admission as a student;

(h) “university” means a university or institution referred to in sub-section (1) of section 22.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the

provisions of section 12 if, having regard to –

(a) the nature of any course of study for

obtaining any qualification from any

university;

(b) the types of activities in which persons

obtaining such qualification are likely to be

engaged on the basis of such qualification;

(Chapter III-Powers and Functions of the Commission)

* Ins. by S. 3 of Act 59 of 1984 (w.e.f. 1-10-84)

Regulation of fees and prohibition of

donations in certain cas OF 1956] University Grants Commission 13

(c) the minimum standards which a person

possessing such qualification should be able to maintain in his work relating to such activities and the consequent need for ensuring, so far as may be, that no candidate secures admission to such course of study by reason of economic power and thereby prevents a more meritorious candidate from securing admission to such course of study;

and (d) all other relevant factors, the Commission is satisfied that it is necessary so to do in the public interest, it may, after consultation, with the university or universities concerned specify by regulations the matters in respect of which fees may be charged, and the scale of fees in accordance with which fees shall be charged in respect of those matters on and from such date as may be specified in the regulations in this behalf, by any college providing for such course of study

from, or in relation to, any student in

connection with his admission to, and

prosecution of, such course of study:

Provided that different matters and

different scales of fees may be so specified in relation to different universities or different classes of colleges or different areas.

(3) Where regulations of the nature referred to in sub-section (2) have been made in relation to any course of study, no college providing for such course of study shall –

 (a) levy or charge fees in respect of any matter other than a matter specified in such regulations;

(b) levy or charge any fees in excess of the

scale of fees specified in such regulations,

or (c) accept, either directly or indirectly, any payment otherwise than by way of fees; or any donation of gift (whether in cash or kind), from, or in relation to, any student in connection with his admission to, and prosecution of, such course of study.