Government Appoints NSE CEO Ashish Kumar Chauhan, Zoho Founder Sridhar Vembu To UGC: Here's All You Need To Know

In a significant development for India's higher education sector, the Central government has announced the appointment of Ashish Kumar Chauhan, CEO and managing director of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), and Sridhar Vembu, founder of Zoho Corporation, as members of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The move expands the UGC's membership from four to eight, aiming to enhance its regulatory capabilities, reported The Hindu.

Joining Chauhan and Vembu are Sachidananda Mohanty, former vice chancellor of the Central University of Odisha, and Shashikala Gulabrao Wanjari, currently serving as vice chancellor of the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration.

Their tenure on the Commission is set for three years, or until further orders.

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The UGC, tasked with overseeing higher education in India, can have up to ten members, excluding the chairman and vice chairman.

Notably, two of the remaining eight members must be central government officials, with Higher Education Secretary Sanjay Murthy and Additional Secretary in the Expenditure Department of the Finance Ministry, Sanjay Prasad, fulfilling these positions.

The recent appointments align with the UGC Act of 1956, which stipulates that at least four members should be active university professors.

Additionally, the law allows for the selection of members with expertise in diverse fields such as agriculture, commerce, forestry, industry, engineering, law, medicine, or other learned professions.

Individuals who have achieved notable academic distinctions or are respected educationists may also be appointed.

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