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Cover Story

INDIA’S TOP GOVERNMENT

AUTONOMOUS COLLEGES

GDWC, Hyderabad principal Dr. Padmavathi (centre) & students: long-awaited recognition
For mysterious reasons government autonomous colleges are rarely ranked by the
Union education ministry and media publications. EducationWorld is an exception
because we appreciate them as islands of collegiate education excellence

Summiya Yasmeen

ndia’s 979 autonomous un- ten years vintage and “accredited curriculums, introduce new study
dergrad colleges have a special by either NAAC (National Assess- programmes; evolve independent
place of honour within the ment and Accreditation Council) performance evaluation systems,
Inational higher education sys- with minimum ‘A’ Grade or the NBA conduct examinations and notify
tem. They constitute just 2.1 percent (National Board of Accreditation of results. They are also allowed to is-
of the country’s 45,473 colleges the All India Council for Technical sue mark sheets, migration and other
and have passed stringent criteria Education) for at least three pro- certificates. Although their degrees
prescribed by the apex Delhi-based grammes, or be awarded autonomy are awarded by the affiliating state
University Grants Commission by a corresponding accreditation university, the name of the college is
(UGC) for conferment of prized grade/score from a UGC empanelled permitted to be inscribed on the de-
autonomous status. accreditation agency”. gree certificate and they carry great
According to UGC rules, to After conferment of autonomous weight with potential employers in
qualify for autonomous status, all status, chosen colleges are permit- industry and business.
applicant colleges — government ted to restructure, redesign and Though of the 979 colleges con-
and private — must be of more than prescribe their own syllabi and ferred autonomy by UGC (as on June

66 EDUCATIONWORLD APRIL 2024