University Grants Commission

07-04-2025

07:32 AM

1 min read

University Grants Commission Latest News

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has notified the “Recognition and Grant of Equivalence to Qualifications Obtained from Foreign Educational Institutions Regulations, 2025”.

Why in the News?

These regulations were finalised after public feedback on the 2023 draft and aim to provide a transparent, structured, and standardised process for recognising foreign academic qualifications.
This move aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasises the internationalisation of Indian higher education and the need to seamlessly integrate international students and returning Indian students into India’s education and employment systems.

What Are Equivalence Certificates?

An equivalence certificate is an official document that certifies a foreign qualification (degree/diploma/certificate) as equivalent to a corresponding Indian qualification.
These certificates are now to be issued by the UGC, replacing the previous system managed by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).

About the University Grants Commission (UGC)

Aspect	Details
Origin	Initiated based on the 1944 Sargeant Report, which recommended a University Grants Committee.
Formation year	First formed in 1945, expanded in 1947, restructured in 1948 under Dr. S. Radhakrishnan’s recommendation.
Statutory status	Became a statutory body in 1956, formally inaugurated in 1953 by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
Headquarters	Located in New Delhi.
Composition	Comprises a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and 10 other members appointed by the Central Government.
Functions	- Assess and allocate grants for universities. - Recommend improvements in higher education. - Assist in the implementation of reforms.

University Grants Commission FAQs

Q1. What is the UGC?
Ans. The University Grants Commission is a statutory body under the Ministry of Education, India, established in 1956.

Q2. What is its primary role?
Ans. To coordinate, determine, and maintain standards of higher education in India.

Q3. Is UGC responsible for funding universities?
Ans. Yes, it allocates grants to universities and colleges recognized under Section 2(f) and 12(B) of the UGC Act.

Q4. What is UGC-NET?
Ans. It is a national eligibility test conducted to determine eligibility for lectureship and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF).

Source: IE