Revised UGC guidelines link institutional autonomy to NIRF rankings

Educational institutes that get better ranks on National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) will get more autonomy in terms of functioning, says the revised UGC guidelines.

This will, in turn, make all education institutions apply for NIRF rankings. The process has been voluntary so far. Many institutions did not apply for the rankings this year, but if autonomy is linked to rankings, they will have to apply on a mandatory basis.

In addition to autonomy, the commission has also revised guidelines for academic collaboration between Indian and foreign institutions and awarding MPhil/PhD degrees. The UGC Regulations 2017 is drafted after consultations with various stakeholders have been put up in public domain for feedback and suggestions.

"The commission shall categorise a university to Category-I university if it has been accredited with a NAAC score of 3.5 or above, or if it has achieved a ranking in the top 50 institutions in NIRF for two consecutive years," the revised guidelines said.

Similarly Category-II will be given if the institutions ranks between 51 and 100. And the rest of the institutions will be under Category-III. Category-I institutes will be given higher level of autonomy as compared to levels II and III.

The revised guidelines have also proposed changes in awarding of MPhil/PhD. Only those who have qualified NET/SLET or SET examinations will be eligible to apply for PhD courses in category III institutions, the guidelines say.

Institutes will have to maintain their rank in NIRF if they want to keep the autonomy. If any university drops its NAAC score or NIRF ranking, it will be cautioned by the commission to improve its performance.