International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) - Shelby ...

universities, deemed universities and institutions of national importance are its
members. As an autonomous and voluntary inter-university organization, it brings
together university administrators and academics from across India to exchange views
and discuss educational issues. Its objectives include coordinating the work of
universities, establishing equivalence of degrees between Indian and foreign
universities, and helping universities obtain recognition for degrees, diplomas and
examinations within India. The AIU also provides key information about Indian
universities and their programs through its publications such as the biannual
Universities Handbook.
– University Grants Commission (UGC). Established in 1945 as the University
Grants Committee, the UGC became a statutory body of the central government in
1956. It has the dual responsibilities of allocating grants to universities for their
maintenance and development and coordinating and maintaining standards of
teaching and research in higher education. It advises the central and state
governments on measures for the improvement of university education and serves as
a vital link between governments and higher education institutions. Its website
provides updated lists of universities and colleges. With its head office in New Delhi,
UGC has decentralised its operations by setting up six regional centres at Pune,
Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bhopal, Guwahati and Bangalore.
– All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). Established in 1945 and
granted statutory status in 1987, it is responsible for planning, development and
maintaining standards in technical education at all levels, from diploma to
postgraduate studies. Its purview covers programs in technical fields such as
architecture, engineering, technology, management, and pharmacy.
– Professional and research bodies. Several professional bodies are responsible for
regulating academic standards and enforcing professional code of ethics for their
respective professions. These include the Indian Medical Council, The Dental
Council of India, the Pharmacy Council of India, the Nursing Council of India, and
the Bar Council of India. A few national research bodies have been established to
promote advanced research in various disciplines. Prominent among them are the
Indian Council of Social Science Research, Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research, Indian Council of Medical Research, and Indian Council of Agricultural
Research. They provide funds to institutions both in and outside the university system
and maintain a number of research laboratories, some of which are recognized as
centres for doctoral work.
Recognition, Quality Assurance and Accreditation
According to the UGC Act 1956, academic degrees can only be conferred by a university
established by a central Act or a state Act, or an institution deemed to be university, or an
institution specially empowered by an Act of Parliament to confer or grant degrees. The
UGC provides lists of universities, university-level institutions, and colleges on its
website. It also maintains a list of fake universities/institutions and issues press releases at
the beginning of each academic session warning students against such institutions. The
Universities Handbook published by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU)
contains detailed information on universities and their affiliated or constituent colleges.
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