The University Grants Commission (UGC) has appointed a committee to review pay scales of university teachers in tune with the Veerappa Moily Oversight Committee’s recommendations to find innovative ways to attract world-class faculty for higher educational institutions in India.

The panel will be chaired by Prof G K Chadha, member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, while the UGC Secretary will be its Member Secretary. Other Members of the Committee are Prof Atul Sharma, Prof G Padhmanaban, Sudeep Banerjee and Prof Manimala Das. The committee will submit its recommendation within a year.

The panel would recommend ways of attracting and retaining talented persons in the profession, furtherance of research in universities and career advancement in teaching and equivalent positions.

The terms of reference also include reviewing implementation of previous UGC recommendations and examining present structure of emoluments and conditions of service. It will also suggest revisions taking into account minimum qualifications, career advancement opportunities and total packet of benefits available. Agriculture universities have been also included in the purview of the panel.

Prof Chadha told The Indian Express that pay revision is only a part of the exercise and the committee would consider a whole gamut of issues related to higher education. “The guiding principle is to provide functional autonomy to higher educational institutions coupled with accountability. The idea is to attract and retain the best talents and provide dignity to teaching as a career,” he said.

“The PM’s vision of higher education is reflected in the terms of reference. We will examine working conditions, research facilities and career advancement opportunities of faculties comparable to other services,” he said. The Committee will visit universities and institutions in different parts of the country and interact with faculty members.