Cabinet approves proposal for withdrawal of Nalanda University (Amendment) Bill, 2013

• The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for withdrawal of Nalanda University (Amendment) Bill, 2013 pending in the Rajya Sabha.
• The Nalanda University was established on the basis of a Joint Press Statement at the 4th East Asia Summit held in Thailand in October, 2009, which supported its establishment as a non-state, non-profit, secular and self-governing international institution
• Subsequently, the Nalanda University Act, 2010 was passed by the Parliament and came into effect from 25 November 2010.

Important highlights of the Bill:

• Bill was proposed by the Ministry of External Affairs and has been referred to the Standing Committee for detailed examination.
• The Act establishes Nalanda University in Bihar as a result of decisions taken at the East Asia Summits.
• Under the Act, the University is a non-profit public-private partnership, supported by each member country as well as other sources. The Bill amends the Act to provide for the Government of India to meet the university’s capital and recurring expenditure to the extent required.
• The powers of the University are amended to include the power to set up a consortium of international partners to meet the objectives of the University, and appoint persons working in any other University or academic institution, including those located outside India, as faculty of the University.
• The size of the Governing Board of the University is being increased to include two persons of eminence and two members from the academic faculty of the University. The Bill also makes provision for the appointment of Deans and Provosts.

By: Vishal