New Delhi, 14 February 2018: Now your university will be categorized for grant of Graded Autonomy. The categorization will determine the magnitude autonomy the concerned university will be granted. As per the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) new regulation, all universities will be categorized: Category-I, Category-II and Category-III.
Depending on the Categorization, the levels of autonomy will granted in terms of new courses & programmes, academic collaboration, some financial matters, opening new centres/campuses, admission of foreign students, etc.
The UGC has notified the new regulations known as the University Grants Commission (Categorization of Universities (only) for Grant of Graded Autonomy) Regulations, 2018. The Category I universities will be granted the highest autonomy. Category II universities will be granted relative less autonomy as compared to Category I. The notification is available on the official website of the UGC.
Category-I University: University shall be in Category-I if
It has been accredited by NAAC with a score of 3.51 or above; or
It has received a corresponding accreditation grade/score from a reputed accreditation agency empanelled by the UGC; or
It has been ranked among top 500 of reputed world rankings, such as Times Higher Education or QS.
Category-II University: University shall be in Category-II if
It has been accredited by NAAC with a score of 3.26 and above, upto 3.50; or
It has received a corresponding accreditation grade/score from a reputed accreditation agency empanelled by the UGC;
Category-III University: University shall be in Category-III if it does not come either under Category-I or Category-II.
The Category I universities will be granted highest autonomy. Universities shall be automatically deemed to be under section 12B of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 and no inspections by the Commission shall be required for the same. These Universities may start a new course/programme/department/school/centre in disciplines that form a part of its existing academic framework without approval of the UGC, provided no demand for fund is made from the government on account of starting the new course/programme/department/school/centre.
Categories I Universities shall be free to admit foreign students on merit, subject to a maximum of twenty percent, over and above of the strength of their approved domestic students. Universities would be free to fix and charge fees from foreign students without any restriction.
The UGC will fix dates (at least two times in a year, preferably 1st of June and 1st of December) by which an institution shall submit a request in prescribed format for categorization under these Regulations. The dates so fixed shall be notified at least six months in advance.
