Draft bill on legal framework for teaching, research

Government has come up with a preliminary draft bill seeking to consolidate the laws relating to certain existing specified central universities and make provision for an uniform legal framework for teaching and research.
The draft bill titled 'The Central Universities of India (Teaching, Research and Administration) Bill, 2013', governing 39 central universities under the purview of University Grants Commission, was prepared by a committee constituted by HRD Ministry in April this year.
It has provisions for conversion of existing specified central university to self-financing and self-regulation if an existing specified central university is of the opinion that no financial resources or grants are necessary from the government for its academic and administration activities.

The draft bill has been placed in public domain inviting suggestions from stakeholders.
It seeks to make it a general obligation of central universities to impart education to promote awareness regarding cultures and civilization of India.
The government said the draft was prepared after the committee held interactions with the Vice-Chancellors for the purpose of formulating principles of the proposed legislation.