Section 5 in University Grants Commission (Categorization of Universities (only) for Grant of Graded Autonomy) Regulations, 2018
5. Dimensions of Autonomy for Category-II Universities.
5.1Universities may start a new course/programme department/school/centre in disciplines that form a part of its existing academic framework without approval of the UGC, provided no demand for fund is made from the government on account of starting the new course/programme/department/school/ centre. Degree programs shall be consistent with the approved nomenclature of the UGC. Diploma and certificate courses approved by its Statutory Authorities or Statutory Regulatory Authorities wherever required, may be started in new and innovative areas that are relevant to local, national or international needs, with information to the UGC :Provided that for Government owned Deemed to be Universities, approval shall be taken from the Government if funding is sought from the Government for starting a new course/programme/ department/school in self-financing mode.5.2While according permission of starting off campus centers by Institutions Deemed to be Universities, no inspection of the Commission shall be required. This concession shall be subjected to opening two off-campus centres in every five years and as stipulated in the UGC (Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2016 and amendments, if any, from time to time.5.3Universities may start skill courses, consistent with the National Skills Qualification Framework, without approval of the UGC, provided no demand for fund is made from the government on account of starting the new courses. Degree programmes shall be consistent with the approved nomenclature of UGC. Diploma and certificate courses approved by its Statutory Authorities or Statutory Regulatory Authorities wherever required, may be started in new and innovative areas that are relevant to local, national or international needs, with information to the UGC.5.4Universities, subject to the Rules, Regulations and Guidelines of the Government of India, may hire, without approval of the Commission, foreign faculty having taught at any institution appearing in top five hundred of any of the world renowned ranking frameworks, such as the Times Higher Education World University Rankings or the QS Rankings, upto twenty percent over and above of their total sanctioned faculty strength. Universities will have the freedom to hire foreign faculty on "tenure/contract" basis as per the terms and conditions approved by their Governing Council/Statutory bodies.5.5Universities, while following the pay scales as laid down by the Commission, shall build in an incentive structure to attract talented faculty, with the condition that the incentive structure shall have to be paid from their own revenue sources and not from Commission or Government funds. Such incentive structure shall be strictly merit based with clear defined, transparent and objective criteria and should not be universal. It must necessarily be approved by both the Academic Council and the Finance Committee of the Institution, apart from Statutory Bodies like Senate/Syndicate/Executive Council, as the case may be. The Commission shall be informed of the incentive structure within thirty days of approval by the statutory bodies of the Institution.5.6Universities shall be free to admit foreign students on merit subject to a maximum of twenty percent, over and above of the strength of their approved domestic students. Universities would be free to fix and charge fees from foreign students without any restriction.5.7Universities may offer courses in the Open and Distance Learning mode, with approval of the Commission, provided it satisfies all the conditions laid down under the regulations, by whatever name they are called, pertaining to open and distance learning mode notified by the UGC from time to time.5.8In case there is any external review required by the Commission under any statute or executive order, than the review can be done by the institution itself through external peer review mechanism wherein the per team members shall be chosen by the institution themselves from representatives of Category-I Universities, and the review report shall be sent to the commission after completion of the review.
