University Grants Commission (UGC) is a statutory organization established by an Act of Parliament in 1956. UGC operates various schemes to achieve its objectives for promoting higher education both in terms of quality and quantity. Some of the major schemes are aimed at development of infrastructure of universities and colleges, curriculum development, better facilities for research, physical education and sports in universities and colleges. UGC provides financial assistance to universities, colleges and individuals under these schemes.
The volume of data required to be maintained and processed for operating the schemes is so large that many a time it is difficult to find correct information at the right time. UGC has decided to reap the potential of Information Technology, which is now a proven technology, by computerizing all the major functions. UGC aims at total automation of the important processes. For this purpose UGC sought the help of the National Informatics Centre. UGC has given the responsibility of software development to NIC. (In this regard NIC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UGC in January 1995).
NIC team conducted in-depth study of various functional and support divisions of UGC and analysed the requirements after detailed discussions with the officials dealing with the activities. In all, NIC has to develop Software Packages for 29 important schemes and 13 separate administrative, financial management and office automation applications. Initially NIC has taken-up the computerization of 20 important schemes operated by UGC and 6 Administrative and Financial Management Applications.
The Software developed by NIC is a multi-user system so that the data stored in the servers can be accessed by authenticate User from anywhere in the UGC and they can concurrently make use of the same data for decision making.
Computerization of the schemes will enable the UGC to streamline the data management by easily retrieving and making full use of information available on the digital media.
The following Software Packages have already been handed over to UGC by NIC: ❑ Budget Information System ❑ Financial Accounting System ❑ Audit Paras Information System ❑ Subject Experts Database ❑ Committee Formulation System ❑ Commission Proceedings Database ❑ Management Information System (MIS) on Major Research Project ❑ MIS on University Science Instrumentation Centres