No Directions To Central Universities To Increase Fees: Union Minister

The government has not issued any directions to central universities to hike fees, Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' said on Monday. Nishank made the statement in response to a written question in the Lok Sabha. "The Ministry of Human Resource Development has not issued any instructions to Central Universities for increase in the fees," he said. The minister's comments came on the day JNU students were lathi-charged by police when they tried to march to the Rashtrapati Bhawan to demand a rollback in hostel fee hike.

Meanwhile, the UGC has prepared a set of directives to regulate fees charged by private universities, including the capitation fee, and is seeking suggestions on its website from all stakeholders, Nishank said. Nishank was replying to a question in Lok Sabha. He was asked whether the University Grants Commission is contemplating to introduce regulations to curb the practice of charging capitation fee.

Replying to it, the minister said the Commission has prepared the UGC (Fees in professional education imparted by private aided and unaided institutions deemed to be universities) Regulations, 2019.

These regulations are being placed on the UGC website to solicit comments from all stakeholders. A final decision will be taken after receipt of comments from them, he said.