University Grants Commission

The University Grants Commission (UGC) is a statutory organization operating within the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, within the Government of India. Established in accordance with the UGC Act of 1956, its primary responsibilities include coordinating, setting, and upholding the quality standards for higher education in India. The UGC plays a pivotal role in granting recognition to universities and colleges across the country, as well as disbursing funds to these recognized institutions.

The UGC is headquartered in New Delhi, with six regional centers situated in Pune, Bhopal, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Guwahati, and Bangalore. Notably, there is an ongoing deliberation by the Government of India regarding the potential replacement of the UGC with a new regulatory body called the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI).

One of the key initiatives of the UGC is its provision of doctoral scholarships to individuals who successfully clear the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in the National Eligibility Test. Each year, the UGC allocates an average of ₹725 crore (approximately US$91 million) for supporting doctoral and post-doctoral fellowships, thereby contributing to the advancement of academic research in the country.