Page 324 - Compendium of UGC Regulations 1957-2023

Regulations pertaining to Autonomy to HEIs:

4.10 Universities may offer courses in the Open and Distance Learning mode, without approval
of the Commission, provided it satisfies all the conditions laid down under UGC (Open
and Distance Learning) Regulations, 2017 and amendments from time to time.
4.11 Universities shall be exempted from annual monitoring of their off-campus centre(s)
and / or the study centre(s), as stipulated under Section 3.3 of the UGC (Establishment
of and Maintenance of Standards in Private Universities) Regulations, 2003 as amended
/modified from time to time, except when there is substantive evidence of their not
meeting basic minimum criteria or of irregularities or malpractices.
4.12 In case there is any external review required by the Commission under any statute or
executive order, then it would be sufficient that the institution sends a report to the
Commission in a prescribed review format.
5. Dimensions of Autonomy for Category-II Universities

5.1 Universities may start a new course/programme department/school/centre in disciplines
that form a part of its existing academic framework without approval of the UGC,
provided no demand for fund is made from the government on account of starting the
new course/programme/department/school/ centre. Degree programs shall be consistent
with the approved nomenclature of the UGC. Diploma and certificate courses approved
by its Statutory Authorities or Statutory Regulatory Authorities wherever required, may
be started in new and innovative areas that are relevant to local, national or international
needs, with information to the UGC :

Provided that for Government owned Deemed to be Universities, approval shall be
taken from the Government if funding is sought from the Government for starting a
new course/programme/ department/school in self-financing mode.

5.2 While according permission of starting off campus centers by Institutions Deemed to be
Universities, no inspection of the Commission shall be required. This concession shall
be subjected to opening two off-campus centres in every five years and as stipulated in
the UGC (Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2016 and amendments, if any, from
time to time.
5.3 Universities may start skill courses, consistent with the National Skills Qualification
Framework, without approval of the UGC, provided no demand for fund is made from
the government on account of starting the new courses. Degree programmes shall be
consistent with the approved nomenclature of UGC. Diploma and certificate courses
approved by its Statutory Authorities or Statutory Regulatory Authorities wherever
required, may be started in new and innovative areas that are relevant to local, national
or international needs, with information to the UGC.
5.4 Universities, subject to the Rules, Regulations and Guidelines of the Government of
India, may hire, without approval of the Commission, foreign faculty having taught
at any institution appearing in top five hundred of any of the world renowned ranking
frameworks, such as the Times Higher Education World University Rankings or the QS
Rankings, upto twenty percent over and above of their total sanctioned faculty strength.
Universities will have the freedom to hire foreign faculty on “tenure/contract” basis as
per the terms and conditions approved by their Governing Council/Statutory bodies.

5.5 Universities, while following the pay scales as laid down by the Commission, shall
build in an incentive structure to attract talented faculty, with the condition that the
incentive structure shall have to be paid from their own revenue sources and not from
Commission or Government funds. Such incentive structure shall be strictly merit based

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University Grants Commission