UGC: 20 institutions are included in the list of fake universities, 42 percent of OBC, SC-ST posts are vacant in Central University

Presently 20 institutions are on the list of fake universities of the University Grants Commission (UGC). Three institutes have been included in this list in the last three years. This information was given by Minister of State for Education Subhash Sarkar in a written reply to a question raised by Rajya Sabha member Kartikeya Sharma.

Based on information received from the UGC, the minister said that the Indian Council of Education, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, the All India Institute of Public and Physical Health (AIIPPHS), Alipore, Delhi, and the Bible Open University of India, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, have been awarded the extension from 2021 to 2023. Has been included in the list of fake universities by UGC.

The information on fake universities is also available on the UGC website. The Minister informed that the Union Government as well as the UGC is taking precautionary measures to save innocent students from the trap of these fake universities and institutes. From time to time, UP writes letters to the Chief Secretary and Education Secretaries of the concerned State and Union Territories to take action against fake universities and institutions located in their area. UGC has filed cases against some fake universities and UGC issues show cause and warning letters to such self-proclaimed institutions.

31 pay parity complaints pending At least 31 complaints seeking pay parity with junior employees are pending with the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS). There is no pending case for the grant of Child Care Leave (CCL) and extended joining time. This information was given by Union Minister of State for Education Annapurna Devi in response to a written question in Rajya Sabha.

He said that in the last five years from 2018-19 to 2022-23, 79 complaints of pay parity with junior employees were resolved. CCL was approved in 1998 cases and extension in joining time was allowed in 244 cases based on administrative exigencies.

In 45 central universities, 42 percent of teaching posts reserved for applicants from OBC, SC, and ST are lying vacant. Sharing the information in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that 7033 posts in Central Universities are reserved for Other Backward Classes (OBC), Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) and out of these 3007 posts are vacant.

OBCs have 46 percent posts (1665) and SC and ST vacancies are 37 and 44 percent respectively. So far in 2023, a total of 517 posts have been filled for the three categories.