Indian Universities Act 1904: Provisions, Advantages and Disadvantages

Based on the recommendations of the Indian Universities Commission and in the context of Lord Curzon‘s general education policy, in 1904, a bill called the Indian Universities Bill was introduced to the Imperial Legislative Council. Despite strong opposition from the Indian public, this bill was passed and became law. This law is known as the ‘Indian Universities Act 1904.’ This Act essentially implemented the recommendations of the Raleigh Commission or Indian Universities Commission from an administrative perspective.

Provisions of Indian Universities Act 1904

The notable provisions of the Indian Universities Act 1904 are:

• Every university was expected to give special attention to teaching and research.
• The majority of university fellows were to be nominated by the government, and both the number and tenure of fellows were to be reduced.
• The government was supposed to be able to change or enact rules independently and veto university senate regulations.
• Private colleges were to be subject to more strict standards for affiliation.
• For five years, five lakh rupees a year were to be approved for the improvement of universities and higher education.
• Additional responsibilities were imposed on universities by the Indian Universities Act 1904, and their powers were increased to enable them to fulfill these responsibilities. Until then, universities only conducted examinations, but through the Indian Universities Act of 1904, universities were also given teaching responsibilities.
• Universities were given responsibilities for appointing professors, establishing libraries, setting up hostels, etc., for proper teaching and learning. Additionally, universities were given the power to make regulations and laws regarding conduct and studies to carry out these teaching-related tasks.
• Another provision of the Indian Universities Act defined the formation process of the Senate and Syndicate and gave them legal recognition. To make the Senate more effective, its membership was reduced. Previously, the number of members of the Senate was unrestricted, and members were elected for life. As a result, many undesirable individuals had gained Senate positions, and it had become impossible for this increasingly large institution to conduct its work through the Senate.
• Therefore, the Indian Universities Act of 1904 directed that Senate membership be fixed between 50 and 100 members. It was also stated that a portion of Senate members must be elected, and the number of elected members was also fixed. It was decided that 20 members in established universities and 15 members in new universities would be elected. These members would be elected for five years, not for life.
• Although the Syndicate existed previously to conduct the university’s daily operations, it had no legal recognition. The Indian Universities Act gave legal authority to the Syndicate. The Syndicate’s membership was to be limited to between 7 and 15 members. A considerable number of professorial representatives were given a place in the Syndicate. Additionally, the Vice-Chancellor and DPI were made permanent members of the Syndicate.
• The responsibility for inspecting and approving colleges was given to the university’s senate and syndicate under this Act. Before approving any college, its facilities and teaching standards would be evaluated, and based on the inspector’s report, the university’s senate and syndicate would be responsible for either granting or rejecting the applying college’s approval.
• In another provision of the Indian Universities Act 1904, the viceroy’s council was given the responsibility of determining and reorganizing each university’s geographical boundaries. Moreover, the government was given the power to modify the laws made by the Senate for proper university administration. Any rule created by the university required government approval before implementation. However, this Act did not give the government the right to create university laws on its own.

You can also read about Sadler Commission of 1917: Background, Matters, Recommendations.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Indian Universities Act 1904

The ‘Indian Universities Act of 1904’ was composed of several advantages and disadvantages. Below are the discussions of these advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages

• Although the Indian Universities Act had many disadvantages, some constructive aspects can be observed. Because this Act, for the first time, called for establishing ideal teaching-learning arrangements in universities, it marked a significant step in educational reform.
• When the Senate was reconstituted through this Act, the Senate’s operational power increased, and through more frequent meetings of the Senate and syndicate, it became possible to effectively resolve various problems arising in university administration.
• This Act was heavily criticized in historical circles as it made the college accreditation system more stringent. But there is no denying that there was an improvement in the quality of education as a result of strict rules.
• Due to the strictness of the approval system, the number of approved colleges decreased from 177 in 1902 to 174 in 1907. However, this strict inspection and approval system could not hinder Indian initiatives. Within a short time, many colleges were established through private efforts.
• This Act indirectly acknowledged the concept of university autonomy for the first time.
• Although the Act did not fulfill all the expectations for educational expansion and improvement, it cannot be denied that such an Act was necessary for university reforms under the circumstances of that time.

You can also read about the Hartog Committee Report of 1929: Background, Recommendation.

Disadvantages

• When the Indian Universities Act 1904 was passed, the country’s condition was volatile. Lord Curzon primarily tried to address the critical deficiencies in higher education through this Act. However, certain provisions were included in this Act that led to severe criticism from the Indian-educated community.
• The Indian-educated society was not opposed to the reform of universities but wanted to promote higher education through the necessary reforms. However the Indian government’s education policy of that time excluded Indians from all sides, and the idea of nakedness and mistrust towards the government was strongly shaped in the minds of Indians. Certain provisions of the Indian Universities Act intensified this suspicion. People believed that under the guise of reforming the university education system, the government was trying to destroy native educational expansion efforts and cleverly transfer university administration responsibilities to Europeans.
• The strict rules and regulations imposed on college approval in this Act were the main cause of dissatisfaction.
• The increase in government interference in university administration became a cause of intense resentment among the public.
• Although senate members were elected through this Act, the number of elected members was limited. As a result, universities remained under the control of the European majority. Moreover, this Act did not have provisions for direct election of professor members to the senate or syndicate.

You can also read about Wood’s Despatch 1854: Objectives, Recommendations, Impact.

Conclusion

Although the Indian Universities Act of 1904 was not acceptable to Indians in the context of that time, its importance in expanding higher education was immense. While presenting the bill, Curzon himself said, “Its main principle is to raise the standard of education all around and particularly to higher education ….. our universities, which are now merely examining boards, can ultimately be converted into teaching institutions.” The way he wanted to implement his vision did not materialize in practice. However, it cannot be denied that government intervention in university administration has extended far and wide.