Structure of the Higher Education System in India

Structure of the Education System in India

General Overview

Central Government is responsible for major policy relating to higher education in the country. It provides grants(money and authority) to UGC(University Grants Commission) and establishes central universities in the country. The Central Government is also responsible for declaration of Education Institutions as 'Deemed to be University' on the recommendation of the UGC.

State Governments are responsible for establishment of State Universities and colleges, and provide plan grants for their development and non-plan grants for their maintenance.

The coordination and cooperation between the Union and the States is brought about in the field of education through the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE).

UGC (University Grants Commission)

University Grants Commission (UGC) is responsible for coordination, determination and maintenance of standards, release of grants.

The  UGC  serves  as  a  vital  link  between  the  Union  and  State Governments and the institutions of higher learning. In addition to its role of giving grants to universities and colleges, the University Grants Commission also advises Central and State Governments on the  measures  necessary  for  the  improvement  of  university education. It also frames regulations such as those on the minimum standards of instruction and qualifications of teachers on the advice of subject specialists  and  academicians  with  whom  it frequently interacts  in  connection  with  the  formulation,  evaluation  and monitoring of programmes.

Professional councils are responsible for recognition of courses, promotion of professional institutions and providing grants to undergraduate programmes and various awards. 

Recognition and GUN: Professional Councils

• All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE)
• Medical Council of India (MCI)
• Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR)
• National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE)
• Dental Council of India (DCI)
• Pharmacy Council of India (PCI)
• Indian Nursing Council (INC)
• Bar Council of India (BCI)
• Central Council of Homeopathy (CCH)
• Central Council for Indian Medicine (CCIM)
• Council of Architecture
• Distance Education Council
• Rehabilitation Council
• National Council for Rural Institutes
• State Councils of Higher Education
  
  

Higher Education in India

• Higher education includes the education imparted after the 10+2 stage - ten years of primary and secondary education followed by two years of higher secondary education. 
• The first degree, the Bachelor's degrees, is obtained after three years study in the case of liberal arts, and four years in the case of most professional degrees (four and half in case of medicine and five/six years in case of law). 
• The Master's program is usually of two years duration. 
• The research degrees (M.Phil and Ph.D) take variable time depending upon the individual student.
• The postgraduate degree programs involve 2 years of study after first degree. These include M.Tech, MD, MS and MDS programs that take 2 years after B.Tech and MBBS/BDS respectively.
• The M.Phil. program, is of one and-half year duration. It is a preparatory program for doctoral level studies. PhD program is research study for 2 years and can take several years while D.Sc. and D.Litt. are awarded by some universities after PhD for original contributions
• In addition to the degree programs, a number of diploma and certificate programs are also available in universities. Their range is wide and they cover anything from poetics to computers. Some of them are undergraduate diploma programs and others postgraduate programs. The duration varies from one year to three years.