National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC)

About National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC):

• NAAC was established in 1994 as an autonomous institution of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
• Head Quarter: Bengaluru.
• Function: Evaluation, assessment, and accreditation of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the country. 
• Assessment is a performance evaluation of an institution and its units and is accomplished through a process based on self-study and peer review using defined criteria.
• Accreditation refers to the certification given by NAAC, which is valid for a period of five years.
• The ratings of institutions range from A++ to C. If an institution is graded D, it means it is not accredited.
• At present, the Assessment and Accreditation by NAAC is done on a voluntary basis.
• Composition:
  • It functions through its General Council (GC) and Executive Committee (EC), comprising educational administrators, policymakers, and senior academicians from a cross-section of the Indian higher education system.
  • The Chairperson of the UGC is the President of the GC of the NAAC.
  • The Chairperson of the EC is an eminent academician nominated by the President of GC (NAAC).
  • The Director is the academic and administrative head of NAAC and is the member-secretary of both the GC and the EC.
  • NAAC is advised by the advisory and consultative committees constituted from time to time.

Key Facts about University Grants Commission (UGC):

• It came into existence on 28th December 1953 and became a statutory Organization of the Government of India by an Act of Parliament in 1956.
• Objective: Coordination, determination, and maintenance of standards of teaching, examination, and research in university education.
• UGC provides recognition to universities in India and disburses funds to such recognized universities and colleges.