UGC seeks higher allocation for education in budget

University Grants Commission (UGC) has been undertaking efforts to make higher education relevant to societal and national needs, its chairman D P Singh said on Wednesday. UGC, whose mandate includes promoting and coordinating university education, is taking steps to improve quality in higher education institutions (HEIs), he said.

Singh was talking to reporters after dressing 68th annual convocation of MS University in Vodara. He said UGC has been undertaking efforts to make higher education relevant to societal and national needs. Singh said UGC has requested Centre to allocate more funds for education in upcoming Union budget for 2020-21.

"Indian higher education system has grown manifold since independence. It has w 993 universities, 3.7 crore students and 14 lakh teachers," UGC chairman said. "re have been reports about unemployability of gruates coming out of our higher educational institutions. Some of lacunae pointed out by industry experts are lack of soft skills. We, at UGC, are conscious of se things," Singh said.