UGC must give clarifications on courses recognised by it: CIC

The UGC and other public authorities cannot deny clarifications sought by RTI applicants if it is part of their duty to collect that information, the Central Information Commission has said, rejecting the plea of the higher education regulator that explanations cannot be sought under the transparency law.New Delhi: The UGC and other public authorities cannot deny clarifications sought by RTI applicants if it is part of their duty to collect that information, the Central Information Commission has said, rejecting the plea of the higher education regulator that explanations cannot be sought under the transparency law.In several previous decisions, the Commission and high courts have allowed public authorities to reject RTI applications if the applicant is seeking explanations and clarifications. The arguments given by the Central Information Commission (CIC) and the high courts had been that clarification or probing questions do not fall within the ambit of the definition of "information" under the RTI Act. Read More

PMO directs Niti Aayog to work on restructuring ​of UGC, AICTE

Government think tank Niti Aayog, which is at present working on restricting the Medical Council of India (MCI), has also been entrusted with the task of preparing a similar road map for the UGC and the AICTE. New Delhi: Government think tank Niti Aayog, which is at present working on restricting the Medical Council of India (MCI), has also been entrusted with the task of preparing a similar road map for the UGC and the AICTE.A committee headed by the vice chairman of the Aayog, Arvind Panagariya, is working on restructuring of the MCI in view of the poor regulation of medical education by the body. "Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has directed Niti Aayog to also work on restructuring the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) as well a board looking after Homeopathy and Ayurvedic education in the country," a senior government official said. Read More