Seeking to keep an eye on the standards followed by private universities, government has come up with a portal where details of academic staff and other facilities are available and people can move the regulator if they find any anomaly in what is being offered.
HRD Minister Smriti Irani told Lok Sabha during Question Hour that regular inspections and interactions are held with such institutions to ensure that the standards are followed.
She said the 'know your college' portal offers details of faculty, their academic background and details like labs. People who find anomalies in what is being offered and what is actually in place can refer this to the regulator.
Responding to supplementaries, she said UGC has come up with model syllabi to help such institutions enhance their standards. On the issue of fees being charged by institutions of higher learning, she said all states have a ''fee committee'' which ensure that exorbitant amounts are not charged. She said the ''Svayam'' application will allow students to study for degree and diploma courses free of cost. They can then appear for examinations at select centres on given dates at a nominal fee. The UGC and another body will issue them with ''credits'' which they can use anywhere in India to get admissions to colleges and universities.
At present, there are 233 private universities and 123 deemed universities in the country. 88 institutions of the 123 deemed universities are privately managed.
"Till date, no private university or institutions deemed to be university have been ranked by the central government or by its agencies," she said. Irani skirted a poser on reservation for SCs, STs and economically weaker sections in private educational institutions.
