University Grants Commission Act, 1956
No: 3 Dated: Mar, 03 1956
THE UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION ACT, 1956
ACT NO. 3 OF 1956
An Act to make provision for the co-ordination and determination of standards in Universities and for that purpose, to establish a University Grants Commission.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows:—
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the University Grants Commission Act, 1956.
(2) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
2. Definitions.—In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) “Commission” means the University Grants Commission established under section 4;
(b) “executive authority”, in relation to a University, means the chief executive authority of the University (by whatever name called) in which the general administration of the University is vested;
(c) “Fund” means the Fund of the University Grants Commission constituted under section 16;
(d) “member” means a member of the University Grants Commission and includes the Chairman [and Vice-Chairman];
(e) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(f) “University” means a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act, and includes any such institution as may, in consultation with the University concerned, be recognised by the Commission in accordance with the regulations made in this behalf under this Act.
3. Application of Act to institutions for higher studies other than Universities.—The Central Government may, on the advice of the Commission, declare, by notification in the Official Gazette, that any institution for higher education, other than a University, shall be deemed to be a University for the purposes of this Act, and on such a declaration being made, all the provisions of this Act shall apply to such institution as if it were a University within the meaning of clause (f) of section 2
CHAPTER II
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMISSION
4. Establishment of the Commission.—(1) With effect from such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint, there shall be established a Commission by the name of the University Grants Commission.
(2) The said Commission shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal, and shall by the said name sue and be sued.
5. Composition of the Commission.—(1) The Commission shall consist of—
(i) a Chairman,
(ii) a Vice-Chairman, and
(iii) ten other members,
to be appointed by the Central Government.
(2) The Chairman shall be chosen from among persons who are not officers of the Central Government or of any State Government.
(3) Of the other members referred to in clause (iii) of sub-section (1)—
(a) two shall be chosen from among the officers of the Central Government, to represent that Government;
(b) not less than four shall be chosen from among persons who are, at the time when they are so chosen, teachers of Universities; and
(c) the remainder shall be chosen from among persons—
(i) who have knowledge of, or experience in, agriculture, commerce, forestry or industry;
(ii) who are members of the engineering, legal, medical or any other learned profession; or
(iii) who are Vice-Chancellors of Universities or who, not being teachers of Universities, are, in the opinion of the Central Government, educationists of repute or have obtained high academic distinctions:
Provided that not less than one-half of the number chosen under this clause shall be from among persons who are not officers of the Central Government or of any State Government.
(4) The Vice-Chairman shall exercise such of the powers, and discharge such of the duties, of the Chairman as may be prescribed.
(5) Every appointment under this section shall take effect from the date on which it is notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette.]