Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar was appointed on Friday as chair of the higher education regulator University Grants Committee (UGC).

The federal education ministry said in the notice that Kumar has been appointed for five years from the date of taking office or until he turns 65 or until further orders, whichever is the earliest.

Kumar’s name was shortlisted for the position along with University of Pune Vice-Chancellor Nitin R Karmalkar and UGC-affiliated Inter-University Accelerator Centre Director Avinash Chandra Pandey. The appointment comes as the higher education sector changes with the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020.

Kumar is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras. He was a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, before being named vice-chancellor in 2016. Days before his JNU term ends in January 2021, the Education Ministry granted him an extension “until further orders”.
Kumar’s tenure as vice-chancellor coincided with the 2016 charges of sedition by student leaders for allegedly shouting anti-India slogans, protesting against rising dormitory fees and a January 2020 attack on campus by masked thugs that injured several students and teachers. He There have been disputes with student and faculty unions over issues such as seats on research courses being cut, how statutory body meetings are held and irregularities in faculty appointments.

Complete News Source : Hindustan Times