Uttar Pradesh Governor and Chancellor of state universities Ram Naik said that under his tenure the performance of universities had improved with regularisation of session, cheating-free examinations and holding of convocations as per schedule. 

The Governor said that he also discontinued the colonial relic of hat and gown worn by students during the convocation. 

Addressing media persons at Raj Bhawan in Lucknow on Monday, Naik claimed that during the past one year, there was an increase of 5 per cent (51-56 per cent) in the number of women students being awarded degrees by 26 universities.  

“Besides receiving medals, the girls outnumbered the boys by bagging 66 per cent medals,” he said. 

Naik said that when he took over as Governor in 2014, he was Chancellor of 25 state universities and their number rose to 29 in 2018 .

The Governor also refuted the contention of promoters of private universities that the state government was attempting to undermine their autonomy by bringing a new UP Private University Act.

“The discussion on the new bill on private universities is underway but nothing has been finalised. The bill has provisions for introducing more transparency in functioning of private universities and checking irregularities in the award of honorary degrees and other irregularities,” he said.

Naik clarified that after reaching a consensus on the bill , it would be sent to him for approval by the state government and if he found any flaw in it, he would refer it back to the state  government. 

The Governor said that the state government had assured him that the bill would be introduced in Assembly only after a consensus was reached with different stake holders.

Naik also lauded the role of Deputy Chief Minister and Dinesh Sharma, who holds the Higher Education portfolio, for his effort to improve higher education in the state. 

Naik said that use of CCTV cameras in all state universities during examinations had ended the menace of copying and contributed in improving the quality of education. 

“This along with other measures introduced by state universities for checking cheating led to fall in number of students appearing for examinations,” he said.

The Governor said that for the first time, convocations in all 26 state universities were completed and the last one was held at Allahabad State University on December 8.