On directions from the Human Resource Development Ministry, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked all Central Universities and all institutes recognised by the UGC, including deemed universities, to follow full disclosure norms and publish all information on their websites, in the interest of transparency. 

HRD Minister Kapil Sibal had said earlier this year that all deemed varsities should post infrastructure and academic information on their websites so that students can make informed decisions.

The UGC has now asked institutes to post all information related to their financial situation, physical assets, accreditation ratings, faculty positions, details of their faculty along with photographs and nature of employment (ad hoc/permanent), total fee components and details of the academic curricula in the public domain to ‘empower students, parents and other stakeholders to enable them to make informed choices’. 

The HRD ministry’s executive order to UGC on the issue says that while it respects academic autonomy, there is concern about practices being adopted by some

institutes.

According to the order, even while tackling instances of corruption and malpractice, there is a need to balance accountability and the interest of stakeholders with the autonomy of institutions.