University Grants Commission has created ripples across the higher education sector in India, as they have prohibited some of the most reputed, and popular institutions from using ‘University’ tag in their names.

These institutions were deemed varsities, and the term University was used rampantly, giving an impression that they are approved Universities.

In their defence, UGC is simply following Supreme Court’s orders regarding this issue; but from the point of view of the students, this development sounds like catastrophe.

In a related news, UGC has decided to discredit engineering degrees issued by 4 such deemed varsities, between 2001 and 2005.

123 Deemed Varsities Cannot Use ‘University’ Tag – UGC

The power and influence of institutions such as IISc, Lingaya’s University, Indian Institute Of Science (IISc), Sikkim Manipal, NITTE, Bharati Vidyapeeth, Symbiosis, Vellore Institute of Technology.

However, from now on, they won’t be able to use the term ‘University’ in their tagname, until further notice from UGC.

A total of 123 deemed varsities would be directly affected by this major decision.

UGC has sent a letter to all these 123 Universities, with the subject line: “UGC Letter to Deemed to be Universities regd. Use of the word ‘University’ by Institutions Deemed to be Universities-Directions issued by Hon’ble Supreme Court.”

In the letter, UGC can referenced Supreme Court’s November 3rd ruling, which states that deemed Universities cannot grant Engineering degrees in India.

The letters states:

“The Hon’ble Supreme Court vide orders dates 03.11.2017 under para 51 and 53 (XII) observed and directed as under- Para 51- “we must also put on record what we have observed during the course of the hearing and consideration of the present matters. It has come to the notice that many institutions which are conferred the status of Deemed to be university are using the word “University”, which in our view is opposed to the spirit of Section 23of the UGC Act. The UGC shall take appropriate steps to to such practice.”

As per the letter, strict action would be taken under UGC (institutions deemed-to-be-universities) Regulations, 2016; against those which fail to comply with this new direction.

Interestingly, these 123 institutions can use the word ‘Deemed to be University’ within parenthesis in near future.

As per UGC secretary P K Thakur, these 123 Universities can approach HRD Ministry for more clarifications, and for suggesting another term which can be used.

Here is the list of all 123 deemed Universities, which are now prohibited from using University tag:

Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM), Visakhapatnam Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Guntur Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Tirupati Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Anantapur Vignan’s Foundation for Science, Technology and Research, Guntur North Eastern Regional Institute of Science & Technology Nava Nalanda Mahavihara Punjab Engineering College Indian Agricultural Research Institute Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) Indian Law Institute Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) Jamia Hamdard National Museum Institute of History of Art, Conservation and Musicology National University of Educational Planning & Administration Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthana Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapith TERI School of Advanced Studies Gujarat Vidyapith Sumandeep Vidyapeeth Lingaya’s University Maharishi Markandeshwar University Manav Rachna International University National Brain Research Centre National Dairy Research Institute National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship & Management Central Institute of Buddhist Studies Birla Institute of Technology-Mesra B.L.D.E. University Christ University Indian Institute of Science (IISc)-Bangalore International Institute of Information Technology Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeswara University Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research Jain University K.L.E. Academy of Higher Education and Research Manipal Academy of Higher Education NITTE University Sri Devraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research Sri Siddhartha Academy of Higher Education Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana Yenepoya University Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology Kerala Kalamandalam Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education Bharati Vidyapeeth Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Fisheries D.Y. Patil Educational Society Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences Deccan College Postgraduate & Research Institute Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth Gokhale Institute of Politics & Economics Homi Bhabha National Institute Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research Institute of Armament Technology International Institute for Population Sciences Institute of Chemical Technology Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences MGM Institute of Health Sciences Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies Padmashree Dr. D.Y. Patl Vidyapeeth Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences SYMBIOSIS International University Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Tata Institute of Social Sciences Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth Kalinga Insitute of Industrial Technology Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences Shiksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology (SLIET) Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth Banasthali Vidyapith Birla Institute of Technology & Science Institute of Advanced Studies in Education I.I.S. (Deemed to be University) Jain Vishva Bharati Institute Janardan Rai Nagar Rajasthan Vidyapeeth LNM Institute of Information Technology Academy of Maritime Education and Training Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science & Higher Education for Women Bharath Institute of Higher Education & Research B.S. Abdur Rahman Institute of Science & Technology Chennai Mathematical Institute Chettinad Academy of Research and Education (CARE) Gandhigram Rural Institute Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science (HITS) Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Higher Education Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences Karpagam Academy of Higher Education M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research Noorul Islam Centre for Higher Education, Periyar Maniammai Institute of Science & Technology (PMIST) Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute of Science & Technology (PRIST), S.R.M Institute of Science and Technology Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA) Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Vishwa Mahavidyalaya Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute St. Peter’s Institute of Higher Education and Research Vel’s Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies (VISTAS) Vellore Institute of Technology Vinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R & D Institute of Science and International Institute of Information Technology, ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology & Sciences Bhatkhande Music Institute Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies Dayalbagh Educational Institute Indian Veterinary Research Institute Jaypee Institute of Information Technology Nehru Gram Bharati Vishwavidyalaya Shobit Institute of Engineering & Technology Santosh University Forest Research Institute Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya Graphic Era University Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute

Source

Engineering Degrees Will Be Cancelled

Meanwhile, after Supreme Court’s November 3rd order, under which deemed varsities cannot grant engineering degrees, engineering degrees provided by JRN Rajasthan Vidyapeeth, Institute of Advanced Studies in Education in Rajasthan, Allahabad Agricultural Institute and Vinayaka Mission Research Foundation, Tamil Nadu, between 2011 and 2015 has been terminated.

While students from these 4 institutions between 2001-2005 would be required to give a test to prove their capability; students who opted to join these institutions after 2005 would be invalid engineers.

Besides, Govt. has also initiated a CBI enquiry as to how these colleges were able to give engineering degrees, and why UGC didn’t intervene before.

We will keep you updated as more information comes in.