The 22nd meeting of the State Higher Education Council, Union Territory (UT) of Chandigarh, took place on Thursday under the chairmanship of Prof. Renu Vig, Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University. The meeting was held at the RUSA Directorate in Sector 42, and the agenda was presented by Prof. Lakhvir Singh, Additional State Project Director (ASPD) of RUSA, Chandigarh.
During the meeting, a total of 25 items were discussed in detail, highlighting the ongoing efforts to enhance higher education in Chandigarh. A significant focus was placed on the online admission process for the 2024-25 academic year. The ASPD reported that the entire admissions procedure, including the joint prospectus, admission form filling, display of merit lists, and fee deposition, has transitioned to an online format. This shift facilitated the admission of 42,751 students into undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
The council also reviewed the financial progress made under grants received from the Ministry of Education, Government of India, for RUSA 1.0 and 2.0. Up to August 8, 2024, an interest amount of ₹2,32,87,620 had been remitted to the ministry. Additionally, a proposal amounting to ₹29,09,20,034 was submitted to the Ministry of Education for the release of grants under RUSA/PM-USHA.
For the financial year 2024-25, the Ministry of Education has allocated an annual budget of ₹32.45 crore for Chandigarh under the RUSA/PM-USHA scheme. Notably, GGDSD College, located in Sector 32, Chandigarh, has been approved for a grant of ₹5 crore under PM-USHA by the Union Ministry of Education.
To maintain educational quality, the council also discussed the Assessment and Accreditation status of higher education institutions in Chandigarh. The meeting informed members that the recruitment rules for 417 posts of assistant professors and 32 posts of librarians have been approved by the ministry. To address the shortage of faculty in government colleges, 27 retired teachers from various subjects have rejoined service per court orders, and 19 faculty members from Haryana are expected to join shortly on deputation.
These discussions reflect the ongoing commitment of the Chandigarh Higher Education Council to improve the standards of higher education, enhance access for students, and strengthen the faculty resources in the region.
