The Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports presented the report on Autonomous Bodies.
- Autonomous bodies are set up either through a specific Act of Parliament or as societies under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
Key Issues with Autonomous Bodies
- NTA: Leakage (NEET-UG), postponement (CUET), declaration of results of examinations, vendor management, etc.
- NAAC: Long and Bureaucratic process of accreditation, corruption allegations etc.
- UGC: Vacant position of the Chairperson, Delay in Draft UGC Regulations, 2025 finalization, Infrastructure deficit and faculty (EWS) recruitment.
- Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR): Inadequacy of the current budget for the ICHR.
- Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR): Non Implementation of recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission, staff shortage etc.
Recommendations as per report
- NTA: Ensure transparency in paper setting, administration, and correction, timely conduct of examination, pen and paper mode etc.
- NAAC: The accreditation process for HEIs needs to be streamlined, flexibility for institutes in tribal and rural areas etc.
- UGC: New Chairperson, finalization of draft regulations (include caste-based harassment, disability) etc.
- ICHR: Increase the budget for the Council, infrastructure enhancement etc.
- ICSSR: Pay parity, staff appointment etc.
