NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Human Resource Development is constituting a search committee for appointing a new chairman for the University Grants Commission, the regulator for higher educational institutions and universities.
The search committee would be tasked to identify 10-odd names, mostly educationists and those with administerial experience in the higher education sectors, government sources told Express.
Sources said that the government is unhappy over the performance of the UGC and is keen on appointing a new UGC chairman soon after the incumbent, Ved Prakash, completes his tenure on April 23, 2017.
They said the government is eagerly waiting for a change of guard at the UGC, as the role of the apex educational regulatory body is key to pushing for an early release of the new education policy that the Narendra Modi government wants in place by next year. The committee will comprise eminent educationists and also have representation from the government.
Prakash was appointed on January 18, 2013 as UGC chairman with a condition that his tenure would be for five years or 65 years, whichever was earlier.
He retired as a UGC staffer at 62, but since he has not yet reached 65, he is continuing to head the UGC. Prakash will continue in office till April 3, 2017.
India has 759 universities which include 239 private, 47 Central universities, 350 state universities and 123 deemed-to-be universities.
For private universities, the UGC approves courses but does not have direct control of its institutes, while for central universities, the UGC funds and and approves courses. State universities get Central assistance through the UGC, for which the Commission also sets rules and approves courses.
Institutes like IITs and IIMs are not governed by the UGC.