After independence the first
action of a great significance to be taken by the government of India in the
field of educational administration was the appointment of the university
education under the chairmanship of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, a distinguished
scholar and former vice chancellor of Banaras Hindu University. The report of
the commission is a document of great importance as it has guided development
of the university education in India since the independence. This commission
was appointed to report on Indian university education and suggest improvements
and extensions that may desirable to suite present and future requirements of
the country. It submitted tits report in august 1949.
Main terms of reference-
1. The aims and objectives of university
education and research in India.
2. The changes considered
necessary and desirable in the constitution, control, functions and
jurisdiction of universities in India and their relation with government-
central and provincial.
3. The finance of universities.
4. The maintenance of the highest
standards of teaching and examination in the university courses of study with
reference to the desirability of an independent university entrance examination
and the avoidance of unfair discrimination which mitigate against fundamental
rights 23(2).
5. Need for more universities on a
regional and other basis.
6. The organization of advanced
research in all branches of knowledge in the universities and institutes of
higher research in a well coordinated fashion avoiding waste of effort and
resources.
7. The special problems of the
Banaras Hindu University, the Aligarh Muslim University, the Delhi University
and other instructions of an all India character.
8. The qualifications, conditions
of service, salaries, privileges and functions of teachers and the
encouragement of original research by teachers.
9. The discipline of students,
hostels and organization of tutorial work and any other matter which is
essential to a complete and comprehensive enquiry into all aspects of
university education and advanced research in India.
Major recommendations the commission:
1. Teaching staff- there should be
four classes of teachers, professors, readers, lecturers and instructors.
Promotions from one category to another to be solely on grounds of merit.
2. To avoid overcrowding at
universities and colleges, the maximum number in Arts and Science faculties of
a teaching university be fixed at 3000 and in affiliated collage at 1500.
3. The number of working days be
substantially increased to ensure a minimum of 180 in the year, exclusive of
examination days.
4. University education be placed
on the concurrent list.
5. The concern of the central
government with the universities be with regard to finance, coordination of
facilities in special subjects, adoption of national policies, ensuring medium
standards of efficient administration and liaisons between universities and
national research laboratories and scientific surveys, etc.
6. Finance: the UGC be set up for
allocation of grants.
Special attention to be paid to
the development of higher education in rural areas.
