Arunachal's Rajiv Gandhi University ranks second in national ranking of varsities

Guwahati: Rajiv Gandhi University ( RGU ), the lone central university in the frontier state of Arunachal Pradesh, has been recently ranked second in the list of Central Universities released by the Ministry of Education, beating outstanding universities like JNU, Aligarh Muslim University, University of Delhi, BHU, Vishva Bharati, NEHU, and Tezpur University among a list of 49 other central varsities across the nation.

In a letter sent by The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) on August 10 2020, Rajiv Gandhi University received 'Excellent' status for the year 2019-20 based on performance parameters set by MHRD for Central Universities.

Notably, Universities receiving ≥ 90 % are graded as 'Outstanding' while Universities receiving ≥ 70 % but < 89 % are graded as 'Excellent'.

Worth mentioning is that RGU received a score of 83 %, which is second amongst the Central Universities, after Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi; it is the first among the central universities of North East India.

A detailed look at the grading and scoring of Central Universities reveals that Rajiv Gandhi University has scored 83 percent while the topper Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), Delhi has secured the highest score of 90 percent. Jawaharlal Nehru University at 82 percent is placed 3rd and Aligarh Muslim University is at 4th with 78 percent.

The ranking is based on an annual tri-partite MOU signed between the varsity and the HRD Ministry (now Ministry of Education) and the University Grants Commission and its evaluation.

All the universities were required to sign a tripartite MoU with MHRD (ministry of education) and UGC for constant evaluation.  Since 2017, RGU also is signing and entering it and has made itself worthy for performance evaluation.

The present score is based on an evaluation of key parameters fixed under an MoU signed in 2019-20. Hence,  the rank or score was based on parameters like number of students admitted annually in UG, PG, PhD and MPhil programmes as well the range of diversity among students, measured in terms of percentage of female students as well as the percentage of students from other states and countries.

In addition to that,  aspects like faculty quality, student-teacher ratio, teacher vacancy, and other factors were also included in the list of parameters used to determine the score. Students placed through campus interviews and those qualifying for NET and GATE, among other entrance tests, was also gauged.

Hearing about the news, the Vice-Chancellor of the University Prof. Saket Kushwaha congratulated the University fraternity for their Relentless Efforts for uplifting the quality of education in the state of Arunachal Pradesh and for their determination to improve the competitiveness of the University at the national level.

"We attribute this achievement to the persistent efforts of 'Team RGU' and 'its 4 pillars--the teachers, academic administrators & non-teaching fraternity, the students and the members of the various bodies and committees for the improvement in teaching and research environment of the university leading to high-quality teaching, relevant and focused research of highest quality in the university," he said.

Providing premier quality higher education across North-East, Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) had yet again proved its academic prowess by securing the 2nd position among the 50 central universities of the country by the Ministry of Education (Formerly MHRD).

The VC further added that it is a watermark achievement, considering its location in the remote border state of Arunachal Pradesh with so many challenges.

He stated, "the university community attributes this achievement as an outcome of the persistent efforts of the "Team RGU" and "its 4 pillars – the teachers, academic administrators & non-teaching fraternity, the students and the members of the various bodies and committes for the improvement in teaching and research environment of the university leading to high-quality teaching, relevant and focused research of highest quality in the university. This achievement has come in the backdrop of some other major achievements of the university and I hope and pray that RGU will further improve the performance in the coming years as well."

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