Are Private Universities Regulated under UGC?

ARE PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES REGULATED UNDER UGC

Private Universities are higher education institutions that are not run, owned, or funded by the government. They might get grants, public student loans, and tax advantages from the government. Private universities could be governed by the government depending on where they are. Essentially, private colleges are those that derive their funding from sources other than the government, such as student fees, investments, and private donations.

Yes, the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulates private universities in India under Sections 2(f) and 22 of the UGC Act, 1956. To function as a university, private institutions must first get UGC recognition and then follow the UGC's regulations and guidelines as they change. The UGC examines private universities' performance regularly to ensure that they meet quality criteria and maintain academic standards.

Section 2(f) in The University Grants Commission Act, 1956

The University Grants Commission (UGC) offers financial help to qualified colleges listed in Section 2(f)* and certified fit to receive central assistance (UGC grant) under Section 12 (B) of the UGC Act, 1956, by the approved pattern of assistance under various programmes. Source

Section 22 in The University Grants Commission Act, 1956

Only a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act, a State Act, or an institution deemed to be a University under section 3 or an institution specially empowered to confer or grant degrees by an Act of Parliament, shall have the right to confer or grant degrees.

Except what is stated in subsection (1), no person or authority may confer, give, or represent themselves as having the power to confer or grant any degree.

For this section, "degree" refers to any degree that the Commission may specify in this regard by announcement in the Official Gazette, with the prior consent of the Central Government. Source

Private colleges that are under UGC

The UGC provides and updates private university listings regularly. The UGC consolidated list of universities includes 430 private universities as of November 25, 2022. Sikkim Manipal University issued the first announcement on October 11, 1995. Private universities have been founded in 26 of India's 28 states, but not in any of the country's eight union territories.

The UGC is also permitted to "allocate and disburse, out of the Fund of the Commission, grants to Universities" according to Section 12 (B) of the UGC Act of 1956. A private institution may therefore be listed as "Included under 12(B) of the UGC Act, 1956" by the UGC. Updates to these declarations are made during UGC meetings and are documented in the meeting minutes. 25 private institutions are listed as being included under 12(B) in the most recent list, which the UGC issued on September 26, 2022. Source