Rs 5.20 crore UGC grant for university

MUMBAI, February 17: For the first time ever, a massive grant of Rs 5.20 crore has been provided by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to the University of Mumbai for its impressive progress and performance during the VIII Plan Period. This is reportedly the maximum grant ever provided to any varsity in the country for the further development of its various departments.

Vice-Chancellor Dr Snehalata Deshmukh said today, “In February last a ten-member UGC committee had visited 35 departments of Mumbai University to study the prevailing academic and administrative conditions here. They are certainly very impressed by our high standards”. She added that the UGC committee, headed by the former V-C of Annamalai University, S V Chitti Babu, has given the highest rating to the Physics Department. The university departments of Chemistry, Economics, English and Geography have also been highly appreciated by the UGC.

Of the Rs 5.2 crore sanctioned by UGC, Rs 2.2 crore will go to the University Department ofChemical Technology (UDCT) and the first instalment of the capital has already reached the varsity. The UGC has also advised the varsity to create seven additional posts of professors, three posts for readers, and four for lecturers in various departments. “We have received a sum of Rs 4 lakh in the first phase in order to have a proper building for the Education Department,” Deshmukh informed.