National ranking to elude Patna University

PATNA: Even as the union HRD ministry is gearing up for developing at least 10 universities each in public and private sectors as world class institutions, the 99-year-old Patna University (PU) is shy of venturing into any institutional ranking process.
For the second time in a row, PU has missed to apply for the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) launched by the union HRD ministry.The last date of registration for the India rankings-2017 ended on October 10, but PU did not bother to apply. Registrar Sanjay Kumar Sinha admitted that the registration could not be done as the university was busy in its centenary celebration preparations.
Much hue and cry was made by the academics last time when PU did not figure anywhere in the list of 100 best institutions of the country based on NIRF ranking. However, two much newer institutions of the state (IIT-Patna and Central University of South Bihar) had figured in the list.
The main objective of launching the NIRF is to have indigenous ranking for the institutions across the country. An institution is assessed on five broad parameters, including teaching and learning resources, research and professional practices, graduation outcome, outreach and inclusivity and perception.
PU has not even applied so far for its accreditation by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). Even though the UGC, the state government and the chancellor's secretariat have repeatedly been asking all the universities and colleges to get themselves accreditated if they want to avail the development grants, PU has always been looking the other way. However, two of its constituent units (Patna Women's College and Magadh Mahila College) are being accredited regularly by the NAAC and getting all the development grants from the UGC as well as the state government.
On the other hand, the UGC has displayed on its website a policy document of the union HRD ministry on Establishment of World Class Institutions along with draft Guidelines and Regulations, 2016, inviting views and suggestions from academicians and stakeholders by October 28.
To start with, it is proposed to provide an enabling regulatory architecture to 10 public and private institutions each to emerge as world class teaching and research institutions. They will be facilitated by giving autonomy on academic, administrative and financial matters.