Draft report of

3.4.2 Central Universities
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on HRD in its 172^nd Report has recommended that Central Universities may be set up in the remaining states of Northeastern region including Sikkim at the earliest.

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  There are, at present, 19+(4) Central Universities under the administrative purview of the Department of Higher Education. Each Central University, established by an individual Act of Parliament, exercises autonomy in its academic and administrative affairs in keeping with the provisions of the relevant Act, the Statutes and the Ordinances made there under. Their entire maintenance and development expenditure is met by the Central Government. All the Central Universities are required to function effectively at national level, to help removing regional imbalances, to contribute a corporate intellectual life in the country and to further national integration. Their all-India character is reflected in admissions, appointments and the nature of the programs directed by them. The following measures are suggested: -
  

- At least one State University in each state should be funded through UGC to the level of Central Universities.

- The Central Universities would develop in such a manner that it will have national character in terms of faculty and students’ participation.
- All central universities must be upgraded as ‘centers of excellence’.
- The role for all Central Universities would be that of a nodal agency and would include generating research, teaching at postgraduate levels and providing academic support to state universities and institutions.
- There is need for provision of fully staffed, equipped, functional Academic Staff Colleges in all Central Universities. This provision should be made under the non-plan scheme to provide ‘permanence’ of character.
- 10 networking centres in Basic Sciences including Physical Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Life Sciences, Material Sciences and Mathematical Sciences need to be set up in leading departments of Central Universities.
- Interdisciplinary Schools or Centres be started in each Central University, such as Centre for Child Studies (none exists in the country), Centre for Educational Studies, Centre for Robotics, Centre for Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, Centre for Studies in Cooperation for Indian Literature and Language etc. These Centres will be primarily meant for research activities..

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- A Central Tribal University needs to be established in order to promote educational avenues for tribal population.

- Faculty of Medical studies needs be established in all Central Universities of North Eastern Region.
- Faculty of Mass Communication and Faculty of Fine Art and Music need to be established in all Central Universities.

- All Central Universities to have hostels for women students.