Do you know what is UGC? Grab the complete details of the University Grants Commission beginning from its history and journey of the establishment to its organizational structure, members, roles, functions, and vision.

1. What is UGC? All about its Establishment,
Functions, and Structure
Since the ancient times to the modern world, the Higher Education System has always been remarkable in our
country, India. The system witnessed to be grown higher in the post-independence period.
Ancient India owned world’s oldest universities like Takshashila, Nalanda, Vikramashila etc. India was
undeniably the centre of learning, not only for inhabitants but also for the populace from other republics.
Maybe, many of us are not aware of the fact that India has grown so miraculously that today, we can take the
pleasure of learning in the world’s third largest education system. The system is being controlled by UGC, the
main governing body of tertiary education.
In this piece of writing, we will be informing all about UGC, its full form, commencement and working under the
following points-
What is UGC? UGC Full Form, History and Establishment
What is UGC and what is the full form of UGC? These questions can be heard from many students who continue
their educational journey to a higher level. UGC full form is ‘University Grants Commission’.
Now, let us go through the passage by which the country acquired the UGC or University Grants Commission
India and know when was University Grants Commission UGC was set up.
UGC Establishment - Journey So Far!
The depiction of UGC we have today is the result of numerous intense steps taken before and after the Indian
Independence. Come, let’s become a part of the establishment journey of University Grants Commission.
1. The first attempt to have an education system was made in the year 1944 with the Sargent Report. It was
the Report of the Central Advisory Board of Education on Post-War Educational Development in India.
2. Through the recommendation, the University Grants Committee was formed in 1945, which took upon
the responsibility of supervision of three Central Universities of Aligarh, Banaras, and Delhi.
3. In the year 1947, the committee got the responsibility to control all the universities of that era.
4. In 1948, the University Education Commission was set up, whose chairman was Dr. Sarvepalli
Radhakrishnan. The commission suggested that the existing University Grants Committee should be
transformed into University Grants Commission India like the UK.
5. On 28 December 1953, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (former Minister of Education) inaugurated University
Grants Commission.

2. 6. And in November 1956, UGC (University Grants Commission) was formally established as a statutory
body of the Government of India via ‘University Grants Commission Act, 1956’ of the Parliament. The vision was
to supervise the coordination, determination, and maintenance of standards of university education in our
country.
7. Thereafter In 1994 and 1995, UGC introduced six centres at Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bhopal, Guwahati
and Bangalore to control the region-wise education system in India. Currently, the head office is locating at
Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg in New Delhi.
What are UGC Roles and Functions? Power & Main Aims of UGC
The main aim & role of UGC in higher education is to provide funds to universities and coordinate, determine &
maintain the ethics in institutions of higher education. The commission upholds the interpretation among the
universities, government and the community.
UGC has also set some standards for the universities for being UGC Approved Universities. With the growth of
higher education in India, many top, medium, and small universities are being established day by day. Among
these universities, there are many universities that are fake and not fit as per the UGC standards.
Therefore, the University Grants Commission has released the list of Fake Universities in India to help the
students to recognize these rejected universities.
Major UGC Activities and Functions of University Grants Commission
Promote and coordinate university education.
Frame rules on minimum standards of education.
Setting standards for examination like ICAR NET, UGC NET & CSIR UGC NET
Scrutinize growth in the field of college and university education.
Allow grants to the universities and colleges.
Maintain connection between the Union and State Governments and institutions of higher education.
Suggest mandatory procedures to Central and State governments to make positive changes in University
Education.
Note: The Government is planning to replace University Grant Commission (UGC) with a new Higher Education
Commission of India (HECI).
HECI will be governed by a commission headed by a chairperson and vice-chairperson selected by a committee
which will include the Cabinet Secretary and Higher Education Secretary (HRD).

3. What is Hierarchy of University Grants Commission? Organizational
Structure of UGC India
The University Grants Commission follows a structural chain of command that starts from the UGC Chairman.
Here, you can read the detailed analysis of UGC Members and the composition of UGC.
Below you can see the list of the members of UGC –
UGC Member Currently Serving As
Prof. D P Singh
UGC Chairman
Dr. Bhushan
Patwardhan
Vice-Chairman UGC

4. Shri Amit Khare
Secretary, Department of Higher
Education, Ministry of Human Resource
Development
-
Shri Rajeev
Ranjan
Additional Secretary, Department of
Expenditure, Ministry of Finance
Dr.Uma
Chandrashekhar
Vaidya
Former Vice Chancellor Kavikulguru Kalidas
Sanskrit university Nagpur
Prof. Raghvendra
P Tiwari
Vice Chancellor
Dr Hari Singh Gour university

5. Dr. Kiran Hazarika
Principal
Tengakhat College
Assam
Prof. (Dr.) Nagesh
Thakur
Professor Department of Physics
Himachal Pradesh University
Shimla
Chief Officials/Members of UGC India
UGC Chairman - The present UGC Chairman name is Prof. Dhirendra Pal Singh (D. P. Singh). He owns
34 years of experience in educational planning & administration, institution building, teaching & training,
research & development, international cooperation etc.
He has also served as the Director of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and Vice
Chancellor of three universities - Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, Dr. Hari Singh Gour University, Sagar
and Devi Ahilya University, Indore.
Prior to becoming the UGC Chairman, Prof D.P Singh has also been a member of various committees to
improve the depiction of the higher education system of India.
He also possesses awards like Environment Leadership Award, Environmentalist of the Decade (Poorvanchal)
Award, Bharat Jyoti Award, U.P. Ratan Award, Agra University GauravShri Award, Raja Balwant Singh
ShikshaSamman, Nation Builder Award etc.
UGC Vice Chairman - Dr. Bhushan Patwardhan has been appointed as Vice Chairman of UGC,

6. UGC Secretary - Shri Amit Khare is currently serving as the Secretary Department of Higher Education,
Ministry of Human Resource Development. He has many years of professional experience in teaching, research,
administration, institution building and corporate training.
Explore the complete organizational chart of University Grants Commission here - UGC Organizational
Structure.
UGC Scholarships & Awards - Complete List of UGC Fellowships
Various UGC scholarships and fellowships have been planned by the commission which provides enormous
opportunities to the students who are continuously contributing to the growth of our educational system.
With the help of UGC scholarships, the students who are not financially strong but are capable to induce
positive changes in the higher education system can continue their education without any financial hindrances.