New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC), India's higher education regulator has decided to amend the funding scheme for universities with effect from April 2012.

According to the new guidelines, the UGC will decide allocation for the entire plan period as soon as it receives the clearance by the university's highest decision-making body, the executive council. Inspection from UGC team will not be required.

For example, if the Chemistry department of the University of Delhi (DU) needs money to upgrade its laboratory, it will submit a proposal to the university. The university will require getting clearance from board of studies, academic council, finance committee and the executive council respectively.

Once the proposal is approved, the UGC will allocate funds to the chemistry department according to its total money allocation for the 12th five year plan. No one from the UGC department will pay a visit to the department for evaluating the proposal.

UGC chairperson, Ved prakash said that discontinuing inspection by expert committee will enable universities to prepare perspective plans in a more democratic manner.

So far, the university had to submit a finance proposal to the UGC, which then sent a team of experts to conduct inspection. The decision of releasing the money was based on the remarks of inspection report.

In case of adverse reports, the inspection was required to be done again. It used to cause delay in release of funds. Besides, the entire process was not devoid of corruption.

As per the decision taken by UGC, the utilization of the money given will be monitored through participation of students and faculty and self disclosures.

Another decision regarding disbursement of funds was compulsory accreditation. Prakash informed that the funds will not be released without accreditation from a recognized agency like National Assessment and Accreditation Council.