Four proposals for grant of deemed university status were received by UGC in the last two years and are currently under examination.
In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, HRD minister Smriti Irani also said that while no institution has been declared as Deemed to be University in 2014 and 2015, the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies in Leh has been accorded the status this year.
The minister said proposals for deemed university status to three institutions -- Vignana Jyothi, Hyderabad, Northern India Engineering College, New Delhi, and College of Engineering, Pune, were received in 2014.
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Further, in 2015, a similar proposal was received from Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth, Ernakulam.
In reply to another question on whether UGC regulations permit auditing of Deemed Universities by the CAG, the minister cited the relevant clauses as per which "the accounts of the institution deemed to be university shall be open for examination by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. The accounts shall also be open for inspection by the Commission".
She added that the University Grants Commission (UGC) is not opposing the auditing of deemed universities by the CAG.
"In the context of clarification sought on whether it comes under the purview of CAG to audit institutions which are neither funded by central government, state government or by the UGC, the matter was referred to CAG, which has sought specific proposals under section 20 of the CAG's (Duties, Power and Conditions of Service) Act, 1971, for their consideration and appropriate action," she said.
