In a bid to streamline the higher education sector in the country, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal has put a blanket ban on giving deemed accreditation status to new institutions. Sibal said approval would be given to new institutions only after verifying the functioning of the existing deemed universities.

In the last five years, nearly 100 private deemed universities have mushroomed across the country. Since1956 to 1990, only 29 institutions were granted the deemed university status, while from 2000 to 2005, 26 private-sponsored institutions got the approval.

Shri Ramachandra University and the Bharat University (of which Balaji Medical College is a constituent unit) have been issued notices on why the deemed university status should not be withdrawn. The Centre may also bring forward action against these erring institutions.

Under section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, an institution can be granted the deemed university status. The new HRD minister has questioned this move after a panel headed by former UGC chairman Professor Yashpal called to stop this.   

Concerns were raised by the Yashpal panel on the investors merit in opening and managing new institutions, especially of higher learning. It also brought to light that there were no rules or experience needed to start an institution. The sole criterion to set up an institution was that it should be registered as a non-profit or charitable trust or society.

The minister has written to the UGC Chairperson Professor Sukhdeo Thorat asking him to review the functioning of deemed universities in the country. Thorat’s report to be submitted in a span of three months will look into the infrastructure and faculty in these deemed universities. Emphasis will be laid on admission procedures being followed by these deemed universities.

On the advice of Sibal, the UGC has asked the National Assessment and Accreditation Council and the National Board of Accreditation to examine the status of all existing deemed universities.