Parliament Question: Institutional reforms at Visva Bharati University

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2903 ANSWERED ON 18.03.2026 INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS AT VISVA BHARATI UNIVERSITY 2903 Shri Samik Bhattacharya: Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state: (a) the number of international students currently enrolled at Visva-Bharati University and what initiatives are being taken to attract more foreign students; (b) whether the University has witnessed a sharp drop in its ranking in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) and what corrective steps are being taken to improve its ranking; (c) whether Government has reviewed the Visva-Bharati Act, 1951 and if so, what amendments are being proposed to address current challenges; and (d) what measures are being implemented to enhance academic collaborations, improve faculty recruitment and promote Visva-Bharati as an institution of global excellence? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (Dr. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR) (a) to (d): Visva-Bharati is a central autonomous institution, established under Visva-Bharati Act, 1951 and is governed by the Act & Statutes/Ordinances made thereunder. At present, 212 international students are enrolled at Visva-Bharati. To attract foreign students Visva-Bharati has registered itself on Study in India portal (www.studyinindia.gov.in). The Visva-Bharati Act, 1951 has been amended in the year 1984 and the Statutes of Visva-Bharati have been amended as per requirement from time to time, notably in the years 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012. For NIRF rankings, the University has taken several steps including emphasis on publication of quality research papers in renowned journals, development of online study materials/courses, enhancing uptake of various research projects by faculty etc. For enhancing academic collaboration & for placing Visva-Bharati on global academic front, the University has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with various institutes of national and international repute including University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Western Switzerland; Royal Academy of Art (KABK), The Hague, Netherlands; Aoyama Gakuin University, Tokyo, Japan; NB Institute for Rural Technology, Tripura; Indian Council of Agricultural Research- National Institute of Natural Fibre Engineering and Technology, Kolkata, West Bengal; Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Burapha University, Thailand; Sri Aurobindo Society,Pondicherry; Stichting Townmaking Amsterdam, Netherlands; Centre for Development of Glass Industries (CDGI), Firozabad, UP; Bhartendu Natya Akademi, Lucknow; Asiatic Society, Kolkata and Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute. Occurrence of vacancies and filling thereof is a continuous process. The vacancies arise due to retirement, resignation and additional requirements on account of enhanced strength; the onus of filling up the posts lies on the Central Universities. Ministry of Education and University Grants Commission regularly monitor the institutions and the Central Universities including Visva-Bharati have been directed to fill up the vacancies in regular mode. *****