UGC Invites Feedback on Draft Guidelines for Implementation of the Reservation Policy in HEIs
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a notice seeking opinions, suggestions, and feedback on the proposed guidelines for implementing the Government of India's Reservation Policy in Higher Education Institutes (HEIs). These guidelines are set to apply to central universities, deemed-to-be-universities, and other autonomous institutions under the Government of India.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a notice seeking opinions, suggestions, and feedback on the proposed guidelines for implementing the Government of India's Reservation Policy in Higher Education Institutes (HEIs). These guidelines are set to apply to central universities, deemed-to-be-universities, and other autonomous institutions under the Government of India.
Interested stakeholders can provide their input on the draft guidelines through the UGC's University Activity Monitoring Portal (UAMP) until January 28, 2024. An expert committee has been assembled by the UGC to formulate these guidelines, focusing on the implementation of the government's reservation policy across universities, colleges, and grant-in-aid institutions.
The primary objective behind forming this expert committee is to review and revise the existing reservation guidelines from 2006. The UGC aims to align these guidelines with the latest office records, memorandums, court decisions, and constitutional provisions that safeguard the interests of marginalized sections of society.
In 2006, the Union government extended reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in substantially funded higher education institutes. This move, covered under the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act of 2006, allotted 27 per cent reservations for OBCs, elevating the total education reservations in such institutions to 49.5 per cent when combined with the existing 22.5 per cent quota for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
Highlights of the UGC Reservation Policy:
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For Professor Vacancies: The draft reservation policy allocates 15 per cent for Scheduled Castes (SC), 7.5 per cent for Scheduled Tribes (ST), and 27 per cent for Other Backward Classes (OBC) in direct recruitment for positions like assistant professor, associate professor, and professors.
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For University Admissions: Institutions are allowed up to three attempts in an academic year to fill vacant seats reserved for SCs, STs, OBCs, or Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). However, any remaining vacancies won't carry forward as backlog to the following year.
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For Civil Posts: Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), not covered under SC, ST, or OBC reservations, will have a 10 per cent quota in direct recruitment to civil posts and services in the Government of India (GoI).