UGC: Encourage admission of SC ST students Ishita Bhatia,TNN | Sep 25, 2015, 06.07 PM IST

TIMES OF INDIA

MEERUT: With 2015 being earmarked as the year of 125th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar - who gave India its constitution - the secretary of University Grants Commission (UGC) in its recent circular directed all the varsities to encourage admission of students belonging to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. It also directed that Constitution Day be celebrated on November 26 so as to bring awareness about the Indian Constitution framed by Dr BR Ambedkar. The instructions should be followed by October 15 and UGC be informed about the same.

"To celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna, Dr BR Ambedkar, a national committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which has recommended that certain activities be undertaken in all the varsities under UGC," read the circular issued by Jaspal S Sandhu, secretary, UGC.

The circular stated that seminars should be organized in educational institutions, on the preamble of the Indian Constitution so as to increase the awareness of students.

"Admission of students belonging to SC/ST in private universities may be encouraged. To increase awareness about the Constitution amongst citizens, particularly children, November 26 be celebrated as 'Constitution Day' every year, as it was on this day, that the Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly. On this day, the preamble to the Constitution may be read in schools and colleges," read the circular by Sandhu.

The national committee headed by PM Modi, includes senior ministers like Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, M Venkaiah Naidu, Smriti Irani, Sadanand Gowda, Ram Vilas Paswan and Suresh Prabhu. As the 125th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar is being celebrated, the committee will be involved in conducting 16 major activities being undertaken by the ministry of social justice and empowerment to promote Ambedkar's ideology and philosophy. These initiatives included setting up of Ambedkar International Centre at 15, Janpath at a cost of Rs 197 crore.

The circular further stated that the universities and the colleges affiliated with them should ensure that action is taken in this regard and sent to UGC on ambedkar.ugc@gmail.com by October 15.