Par panel favours continuance of UGC, AICTE

A parliamentary panel today pitched for continuance of UGC and AICTE thereby rejecting a government proposal for setting up an over-arching commission that would subsume the two regulators of higher and technical education.
"The Committee had strongly recommended for continuance of the existence of these vital bodies (UGC and AICTE) for effective regulation of higher and techical education," the Parliamentary Standing Committee on HRD said.
Making a strong pitch for strengthening the UGC and AICTE, it said there should be no dearth of funds for these agencies for fulfilment of their objectives.
"The Committee is afraid that with the proposed legislation on the over-arching Commission still to be brought again before Parliament, an element of uncertainty about the status of the UGC and AICTE must have crept in," it said.

Observing that the uncertainty may increase with the passing of time, the Committee said that "required action may be taken by the Government on an urgent basis, ensuring that both UGC and AICTE continue to function in a more organised and effective manner."
The Committee has already rejected a Bill proposing to set up an over-arching Commission to replace the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All India Councul for Technical Education (AICTE).