NEW DELHI: Delhi govt has proposed reserving 25% of seats for Delhi students in every course offered by private universities under the draft Delhi Private Universities Bill, while also putting in place a stringent regulatory framework to govern them.Approved by the cabinet Friday, it is a legislative proposal to establish a statutory framework allowing the setting up and operation of private universities in the national capital for the first time.Sources said that according to the draft Bill, admissions against these reserved seats will be carried out in accordance with the existing quota policy of Delhi govt. This provision seeks to ensure that students from Delhi benefit directly from the expansion of higher education opportunities in the city.The draft Bill also provides financial relief for 25% of students from Delhi through merit-cum-means scholarships. Five percent of them will receive full fee exemption, 10% a 50% fee waiver, and the remaining a 25% fee concession, ensuring greater access to higher education for Delhiites.Education minister Ashish Sood said, “We have cleared the way for private universities to be established in Delhi by approving the Bill.”The draft empowers Delhi govt to establish private universities through a govt notification. However, institutions will have to comply with norms prescribed by University Grants Commission (UGC) and other statutory regulators. The universities will follow a unitary model, meaning they will not be allowed to affiliate colleges and will function only through their own campuses, sources said. Faculty members and academic staff will have to be appointed strictly in accordance with UGC norms.The draft Bill envisages a strong oversight mechanism by govt. It proposes that the higher education minister will serve as the visitor of every private university and have the authority to seek information, order inspections and issue directions in case of violations. Administrative, academic and financial inquiries may be initiated whenever required.Govt representation has been proposed in the governance structure of universities. The board of management will include secretary of the department of higher education or department of training and technical education (DTTE), or a nominated officer. Their presence will be mandatory while taking decisions on matters involving govt.The framework also includes statutory positions such as chancellor, vice-chancellor, registrar, controller of finance and controller of examinations, besides bodies like academic council and board of management for academic and administrative decision-making.Departments that examined the draft have recommended a robust regulatory framework to prevent fly-by-night institutions and ensure compliance with the norms of regulators, including UGC, AICTE, NMC, BCI, NCTE, PCI and ICAR. The draft also states that collaborations with foreign universities will be permitted only in accordance with UGC regulations.At present, private institutions (self-financing) in Delhi largely operate as colleges affiliated with Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. The new law will provide eligible institutions with a clear legal route to evolve into universities. The other type of institution is ‘deemed university’, under which TERI School of Advanced Studies, National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and Jamia Hamdard fall. Delhi has 11 institutions that are deemed to be universities by UGC and 29 recognised universities and deemed universities.
