All deemed universities will lose the “deemed” tag and operate as full-fledged universities with the creation of the VBSA. The government will also allow top-performing colleges to award degrees. Under the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, universities set up by central laws, state laws, and deemed-to-be-universities established under the UGC Act can award degrees to students upon completing their academic programs.
VBSA Bill Abolishes Deemed Universities
The proposed VBSA law will repeal the UGC Act, the All India Council for Technical Education Act, and the National Council for Teacher Education Act. With the repeal of the UGC Act, the provision for creating deemed-to-be-universities will not exist.
There are 150 deemed-to-be-universities in the country. Their numbers increased between 2000 and 2010. The UPA government formed a panel in 2009 to recommend the removal of the deemed tag from undeserving institutions. The panel suggested removing the tag from 44 out of 126 such institutions that were operational at the time. However, these institutions appealed to the Supreme Court and received relief.
Planning to introduce new system
While the current bill proposes to eliminate the deemed-to-be-university concept, it introduces a new system that empowers the Union government to authorize leading colleges to award degrees. The VBSA will have a regulatory council that will review applications from aspiring colleges and allow them to award degrees.
“The regulatory council may authorize any accredited higher educational institution, other than a university, to grant degrees in a manner specified by the regulations of the regulatory council, with prior approval from the central government,” states the bill. The council will have the authority to revoke the authorization given to colleges with the Centre’s approval if those colleges break the law, it adds.
A Delhi University professor noted, “The NEP suggested creating a separate council to distribute grants to universities. The VBSA Bill states that the education ministry will have the power to release grants. The NEP called for an end to affiliated colleges. Now, the affiliated colleges will remain, and some colleges will gain degree-granting powers.”
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