Regulations/Notifications

UGC (Fitness of Open Universities for Grants) Rules, 1988

To be Published in the Gazette of India
Part II, Section 3, Sub-Section (i)

Government of India
Ministry of Human Resource Development
(Department of Education)

New Delhi, 8th March, 1989

NOTIFICATION

G.S.R. __________ In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 25, read with Section 12B of the University Grants Commission 1956 (3 of 1956),the Central Government hereby makes the following rules, namely-

1. Short title, application and commencement:-

   1. These rules may be called the University Grants Commission (Fitness of Open Universities for Grants) Rules. 1988.

   2. They shall apply to every Open University except an Open University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act.

   3. They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

2. Definitions:In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires:

   1. “Open University” means a University which imparts education exclusively through distance education in any branch or branches of knowledge: and

   2. “Study Centre” means a centre established, maintained or recognised by the Open University for the purpose of advising, counselling or for rendering any other assistance required by the students.

3. Fitness for Grant:
   
   The University Grants Commission shall not declare an Open University to be fit to receive grants from the Central Government, the Commission or any other Organisation receiving any funds from the Central Government, unless the Commission is satisfied in respect of the following matters, namely:-

   1. The law under which the Open University is established or incorporated is broadly in line with the provisions made in the Indira Gandhi National Open University Act, 1985.

   2. The Open University has a network of Study Centres in accordance with the recommendations of the Indira Gandhi National Open University.

   3. The State Government has ensured provision of adequate facilities in respect of the following:

      (i)	Developed land	40-60 Acres
      (ii)	Core staff of 5 Professors/ 5 Readers and 20 Lecturers.
      (iii)	Buildings:
      a.	Administrative	4000 Sq. mts.
      b.	Academic (for Core Faculty, Guest & Parttime Faculty and their Supporting staff, Library for Books & Cassettes,Seminars and Committee rooms)	3.000 Sq. mts
      c.	Material storage and distribution	2.000 Sq. mts
      d.	Studio with auxiliary accommodation	10,000 Sq. mts.
      	Total	10,000 Sq. mts.
      (iv)	Faculty guest house for atleast 20 persons.
      (v)	Quarters for essential staff.
      (vi)	Computer system, including site preparation, and equipment for studio, as recommended by the Indira Gandhi National Open University
      (vii)	Books and Journals	Rs. 20 lakhs.
      (viii)	Infrastructure facilities for Study Centre established or maintained by the Open University.	Rs. I Lakh per Study Centre.

      Provided that before the University is declared fit to receive grant, the University shall have developed land and core staff as provided for in subclause (i) and (ii) and has incurred expenditure atleast to the extent of fifty percent of the estimated cost on items mentioned in subclauses (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) and (vii).

      (J.D. Gupta)
      Joint Secretary to the Govt. of India

      No.F.10.­40/88Desk(U)

      To
      	The Manager, Government of India Press Mayapuri, Ring Road, New Delhi.

      Copy forwarded for information to:-

      1. The Secretary, University Grants Commission, New Delhi.

      2. The Comptroller & Auditor General of India, New Delhi.

      3. The Accountant General, Central Revenues, New Delhi.

      (M.M. Wadhwa)
      Under Secretary to the Govt. of India