UGC clarifies on deemed varsities

Hyderabad: Education institutes which are deemed to be universities cannot use the ‘university’ tag as per the directions of the UGC.

The UGC has directed all the 123 deemed universities in the country to drop the word “university” from their names, failing which they are liable to have stringent action initiated against them. 

The educational institutes have been given a month to implement this change. 

This move is being implemented after it being brought to the notice of the Supreme Court that many institutions which have been conferred the status of deemed universities are using the word “university” in their names.

Prof. Gopal Reddy, a member of the UGC, says, “Almost 99 per cent of these deemed-to-be universities are private institutions; they cannot even be called deemed universities. The word ‘university’ can only be used by state and central institutions, so there is a need to create a clear idea about the status of these institutions. There is freedom and facilities for these institutions, but they cannot use the word ‘university’.” He adds that this move will not affect the running of deemed universities in any manner.