Higher Education Bodies in India
MHRD
The Ministry of Human Resource Development is responsible for the development of human resources. The Ministry is divided into two departments: the Department of School Education and Literacy, which deals with primary and secondary education, adult education and literacy, and the Department of Higher Education, which deals with university education, technical education, scholarship etc. The erstwhile Ministry of Education now functions under these two departments, as of 26 September 1985.
The Ministry is headed by the cabinet-ranked Minister of Human Resources Development, a member of the Council of Ministers. The current HRD minister is Smruti Irani, the youngest ever to hold the office.
UGC
The University Grants Commission (UGC) of India is a statutory body set up by the Indian Union government in accordance to the UGC Act 1956under Ministry of Human Resource Development, and is charged with coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of higher education. It provides recognition to universities in India, and disburses funds to such recognized universities and colleges. Prof. Ved Prakash is the incumbent Chairman of UGC, India. Its headquarters is in New Delhi, and six regional centre’s in Pune, Bhopal, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Guwahati and Bangalore
AIU
Association of Indian Universities (AIU) is an organization and association of major universities in India. It is based in Delhi. It evaluates the courses, syllabi, standards and credits of foreign Universities pursued abroad and equate them in relation to various courses offered by Indian Universities.
The AIU is mainly concerned with the recognition of Degrees/Diplomas awarded by the Universities in India, which are recognized by the University Grants Commission, New Delhi, and abroad for the purpose of admission to higher degree courses in Indian Universities. The AIU is also an implementing agency for the agreements signed under the Cultural Exchange Programmes executed between India and other countries in the field of education, insofar as it relates to the recognition of foreign qualifications (except for medicine and allied courses).
Its opinion as to legitimacy or recognition of any foreign qualification is not binding upon anyone, as it is neither a statutory body, nor a part of the government. It is in fact a society registered under the societies act.
UK Master's programmes are not recognized by the AIU for the reason that they are of one-year duration. This prevents Indian students having UK Master's degrees to pursue higher studies like Ph.D. programmes in India
Since 2012, Cambridge International Examinations, UK and IB Diploma Programme, Geneva is recognized by AIU. Students from International schools can apply, with converted percentages prescribed by AIU, to Indian colleges.
DEC/DEB
Distance Education Council (DEC) was an organization based in New Delhi, India responsible for the promotion and coordination of the open university and distance education system and for determination of its standards in India. The Council was constituted under the Indira Gandhi National Open University Act (1985). Its consistent with the duty of the University that takes all such steps as it may deem fit for the promotion of the Open University and distance education systems in the educational pattern of the country and for the coordination and determination of standards of teaching, evaluation & research in such systems; and in pursuance of the objects of the University to encourage greater flexibility, diversity, accessibility, mobility and innovation in education at the University level by making full use of the latest scientific knowledge and new educational technology, and to further cooperation between the existing Universities. It is considered necessary and expedient to establish a Distance Education Council as an authority of the University under Section 16 of the Act. The Distance Education Council (DEC) is an apex body for the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system in the country. It is empowered, under Statute 28 of the IGNOU Act, to act as an apex body for the ODL system. It is responsible for promotion, coordination and maintenance of standards of the ODL system. The Vice Chancellor of IGNOU is the ex officio Chairperson of DEC. In June 2013, University Grants Commission has taken over DEC, by establishing Distance Education Bureau which will govern the distance education programs in India. The UGC has constituted a Committee to examine the pending proposals of programme-wise recognition to the institutions.
AICTE
The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is the statutory body and a national-level council for technical education, under Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development. Established in November 1945 first as an advisory body and later on in 1987 given statutory status by an Act of Parliament, AICTE is responsible for proper planning and coordinated development of the technical education and management education system in India. The AICTE accredits postgraduate and graduate programs under specific categories at Indian institutions as per its charter.
It is assisted by 10 Statutory Boards of Studies, namely, UG Studies in Eng. & Tech., PG and Research in Eng. and Tech., Management Studies, Vocational Education, Technical Education, Pharmaceutical Education, Architecture, Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Information Technology, Town and Country Planning. The AICTE has its headquarters in 7th Floor, Chanderlok Building, Janpath, New Delhi, which has the offices of the chairman, vice-chairman and the member secretary, plus it has regional offices at Kolkata, Chennai, Kanpur, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Guwahati, Bhopal, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Gurgaon.
In its 25 April 2013 judgment the Honorable Supreme Court said "as per provisions of the AICTE Act and University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, the council has no authority which empowers it to issue or enforce any sanctions on colleges affiliated with the universities as its role is to provide guidance and recommendations
MCI
The Medical Council of India (MCI) is the statutory body for establishing uniform and high standards of medical education in India. The Council grants recognition of medical qualifications, gives accreditation to medical schools, grants registration to medical practitioners, and monitors medical practice in India.
PCI
The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) is the statutory body of government of India also called as central council constituted under the Pharmacy Act, 1948. The Council was first constituted on 4 March 1948. The Pharmacy Council of India is constituted by central government every five years. They are based in New Delhi which is linked to the Ministry of Health Services and Family welfare.
BCI
The Bar Council of India is a statutory body established under the section 4 of advocates Act 1961 that regulates the legal practice and legal education in India. Its members are elected from amongst the lawyers in India and as such represents the Indian bar. It prescribes standards of professional conduct, etiquettes and exercises disciplinary jurisdiction over the bar. It also sets standards for legal education and grants recognition to Universities whose degree in law will serve as a qualification for students to enroll themselves as advocates upon graduation.
INC
The Indian Nursing Council is a national regulatory body for nurses and nurse education in India. It is an autonomous body under the Government of India, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, constituted by the Central Government under section 3(1) of the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947 of Indian parliament.
DCI
The Dental Council of India was incorporated under The Dentists Act, 1948 to regulate dental education and the profession throughout India. It is financed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and through the local state dental councils.
CCH
Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH) is a statutory apex body under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Department of AYUSH. It was set up by the Government of India in 1973, and part of the Professional Councils of University Grants Commission (UGC), formed to monitor higher education in India.
CCH controls homeopathy education in India; any institution desiring to grant a qualification in homeopathy is required to apply to the Council, which prescribes course curriculum and maintains central registers of homoeopaths.
CCIM
Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) is a statutory body under Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, set up in 1971 under the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, (Act 48) which was passed in 1970. It is one of the Professional councils under University Grants Commission (UGC) to monitor higher education in Indian systems of medicine, including Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani.
NCTE
National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) is an Indian government body set up under the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993 (#73, 1993) in 1995 is to formally oversee standards, procedures and processes in the Indian education system. This council function for the central as well as state governments on all matter with regards to the Teacher Education and its Secretariat is located in the Department of Teacher Education and National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). Despite the successful functioning in terms of educational field, it is facing difficulties in ensuring the maintenance of the standards of teacher education and preventing the increase in the number of substandard teacher education institutions in the country.
NAAC
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) is an organization that assesses and accredits institutions of higher education in India. It is an autonomous body funded by University Grants Commission of Government of India headquartered in Bangalore.
NBA
The National Board of Accreditation (NBA), India was established by AICTE (All India Council of Technical Education) as an autonomous body under section 10(u) of AICTE act, 1994 for periodic evaluations of technical institutions & programmes basis according to specified norms and standards as recommended by AICTE council. It has the full authority to recognize or derecognize institutions and programmes under them. It is the only authorized body in India entrusted with the task of undertaking accreditation of technical education programmes
Following the decision to close down the AICTE in the wake of a corruption scandal, the then Union Education Minister Kapil Sibal announced that the National Board of Accreditation will be elevated as an independent body and become the nodal agency responsible for accreditation in India. The National Board of Accreditation has since become an Independent Society constituted under the Registrar of Cooperative Societies.
NCERT
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT, Hindi: राष्ट्रीयशैक्षिकअनुसंधानऔरप्रशिक्षणपरिषद), established in 1961 is an organization set up by the Government of India, with headquarters located at Sri Aurbindo Marg in New Delhi to assist and advise the central and state governments on academic matters related to school education. Dr Hrushikesh Senapathy was official appointed as new Director of NCERT in September 2015.
