A Chairman, a Vice-Chairman and ten members: the statutory frame of the University Grants Commission

Background

The University Grants Commission is a statutory body under the Ministry of Education, created by the University Grants Commission Act, 1956. Its stated purpose is the promotion and co-ordination of university education, and the determination and maintenance of standards in the teaching, examination and research done in universities. Section 4 of the Act makes it a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal. Section 5 gives it a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman and ten other members, all appointed by the Central Government, and requires the Chairman to be someone who is not an officer of the Central Government or of any State Government. Of the ten, two are drawn from officers of the Central Government and not less than four from people who are serving university teachers at the time. Under section 6 the Chairman holds office for five years or until the age of sixty-five, whichever is earlier; the Vice-Chairman for three years on the same age limit; other members for three years. Section 12 lists the Commission's functions, among them inquiring into the financial needs of universities and disbursing grants, and it ends by letting the Commission do whatever else is prescribed or is conducive to advancing higher education. The Commission also advises the Central and State Governments on measures needed for the development of higher education.