Govt. eases UGC rules for ‘deemed’ university status

The Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan introduced the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2023 recently. During this, he emphasised that these newly unveiled regulations will facilitate the creation of deemed universities that prioritise quality education.

Replacing the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations 2019, the new regulations are based on a “light but tight” regulatory framework, as envisioned in the National Education Policy 2020. These regulations align with the policy’s objectives of providing higher education that fosters excellence in various fields of knowledge, strengthening the research ecosystem, and promoting socially responsive teaching, learning, research, and fieldwork.

The simplified guidelines are aimed at promoting a culture of excellence and prioritising quality. By strengthening the research ecosystem, these norms are expected to have a profound and long-term impact on transforming the higher education landscape of the country, Pradhan said. He further commended the UGC for timely reforms aligned with the National Education Policy 2020.