New Delhi: The University Grants Commissions (UGC) has instructed all universities across India to issue degrees within 180 days of the student qualifying for the degree.

The period of 180 days is more than sufficient to perform the task which constitutes

perhaps one the most fundamental and primary duties of a university, the UGC has said.

The UGC has written to institutions of higher education in the country about the rights and entitlements of students. The Commission has also formulated and circulated comprehensive guidelines about the fundamental entitlements of a student who enrols in an institution of higher education to study a program.

University Grants Commission has been receiving a number of complaints, different stakeholders in higher education regarding some universities which are not awarding degrees in time to the students enrolled in different programs of study offered by them.

Any violation of these guidelines will invite punitive measures, the commission has said through the notification.