More than 50 per cent of colleges and universities in the country are not recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) while student enrolment for higher education has increased by about 30 lakh over the past seven years, auditors have reported.

The percentage of colleges recognised by the UGC dipped from 56 per cent in 1992-93 to 44 per cent in 1999-2000 though student enrolment increased to 77.34 lakh from 48.05 lakh during the period. Of a total of 12,067 colleges and universities, 6898 are not recognised. The figure of unrecognised colleges was 3690 during 1992-93 when the total number of colleges and universities stood at 8145, according to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).

While colleges are granted affiliation by universities, recognition by UGC makes them eligible to receive grants. In 1947, there were only 20 universities and 500 colleges in the country. The report also goes on to say that the audit noticed that the Delhi University, JNU and the Jamia Milia University are running at least eight degree programmes which are yet to be notified by the UGC.

"Further, UGC has no means to assess the sustainability of courses leading to the award of degrees, so as to be able to evaluate the need for their continuance and the relevance of the degrees," it said.

Under the UGC Act, a university can only award degrees that are notified by the Commission.

The degrees which have not been notified by it but are awarded by the Jamia Milia include the Bachelor of Special Education (BSED), Master of Special Education (MSED), Master of Software Systems (MSS) and Bachelor of Business Studies (BBS).

The JNU awards the Master of Community Health (MCH) while the Delhi University gives the Master of Information Sciences (MIS), Masters Programmer in Human Resource and Organisational Development (MHROD) and Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) which are not notified by the UGC.

The Audit sought a list from the UGC of such unnotified degrees awarded by universities in India but the UGC was unable to furnish details as it has no mechanism to compile and monitor such information. "In the absence of such control, the system of award of degrees by universities can be compromised by academic adventurism to the detriment of unsuspecting students at large," the report said. The auditors also accused the UGC of "failing to introduce appropriate examination reform in universities as it could not develop an acceptable package" and said its initiative lacked coordinated and purposeful approach necessary for such a task. The UGC has disbursed Rs 5055.53 crore as maintenance grant and Rs 2719.82 crore as development assistance grant to central universities and colleges during 1992-93 to 2000-01, the report said.

It also said the UGC in large measure failed in determining and maintaining the standard of teaching and examination due to lack of well coordinated academic networks, lack of faculty support in the universities and colleges and its failure in providing imaginative and viable options in change management.

Among other highlights of the report are that Rs 937.52 lakh was released to 13 universities in violation of the guidelines of development scheme, Rs 630 lakh was released to 21 computer centres without approval of detailed action plan for utilisation and Rs 140 lakh to eight computer centres in violation of guidelines of the schemes. Rs 132.91 lakh spent on UGC computerisation became infructuous due to non-development of software and non-filling of vacant posts created for computer unit.