Bill in RS to provide Nalanda University better governance

Intending to provide Nalanda University better governance, Government today introduced a Bill in Rajya Sabha to allow inclusion of two faculty members on the Governing Board.
The Nalanda University (Amendment Bill), 2013, introduced by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, provides for six changes in the existing Act of 2010.
"It has become necessary to amend certain provisions of the Act in order to create an even better governance structure for the University than exists presently," the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the bill said.
"At present, there is no provision in the Act to extend privileges and immunities provided under the Act to the University, in addition to its academic staff so as to enable from the date of the commencement of the Act," it said.

"A provision is required for the Government of India to meet not only the University's capital expenditure but its recurring expenditure as well," the statement said.
The new amendment is aimed to encourage member states of the East Asia Summit to conclude an inter-governmental agreement with a view to providing further substantive basis for the University to be treated as an international organisation.

There is also an amendment relating to the "Governing Board" so as to increase the number of persons of eminence and to include two members from the academic faculty of the University on the Governing Board."
The bill seeks to insert new sections 15A and 15B so as to make a provision for the amendment of Deans and Provosts among others.

The Nalanda University Act, 2010 was enacted to implement the decisions arrived at the Second East Asia Summit held in January 15, 2007 in the Philippines and subsequently at the Fourth East Asia Summit in Thailand for establishment of the Nalanda University in Bihar.