Odisha’s Rama Devi Women’s University Gets UGC 12-B Status

Bhubaneswar: The University Grants Commission (UGC) accorded the 12(B) status to Rama Devi Women’s University. It issued an official notification in this regard on Tuesday.

The status was granted at UGC’s  551st General Council Meeting held on July 1 on the basis of the recommendations of its Standing Committee members and report of the Expert Committee.

“The name of Rama Devi Women’s University has been included in the list of universities under Section 12(B) of the UGC Act, 1956,” UGC Under-Secretary Naresh Kumar Sharma informed the varsity Registrar in a letter.

Noting the shortage of faculty in the varsity as per the Act, the UGC suggested that it take initiative in this regard at the earliest to maintain faculty strength in all departments as per the UGC norms.

Rama Devi Women’s University had submitted a proposal to the UGC seeking 12(B) recommendations following which a team of UGC Expert Committee members had visited the varsity on February 17 and 18, 2021, for a review.

The report was submitted to the UGC Standing Committee recommending the status to the varsity. The UGC panel has asked the varsity to participate in the NIRF ranking and get NAAC accreditation at the earliest.

The 12(B) status from the UGC will enable the faculties at Rama Devi Women’s University to undertake various research and academic activities with Central grants.

In 2019, Gangadhar Meher University (GMU) in Sambalpur was granted the 12(B) status by the UGC.