UGC approves 98 skill-based colleges across India

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has approved 98 skill-based community colleges from all over the country. Sixteen of these colleges are from Maharashtra, thirteen are from Tamil Nadu, fourteen from Assam and eleven from Kerala.

There are courses of duration ranging between six months to two years and include certificate, diploma and advanced diploma courses. Some of the course which are being offered are hospitality and tourism, power plant, chemistry, information technology, Automobile management, food processing, horticulture, healthcare, cast iron foundry.

This scheme of community colleges has been introduced by the UGC community college scheme announced in the 12th five-year plan. The Commission hopes to curb the rising unemployment problem in India by providing nationally standardised and acceptable skill-based programmes. Reports claim that, at present, there are around 4.6 crore unemployed people in India. With India's increasing population, this number is expected to hit an all-time high in the coming years.