Nalanda Bill projects ₹2154.35 crore capital spend, allows retrospective rules

This Bill amends the Nalanda University Act, 2010 to improve the university's governance structure, allow the Government of India to fund both capital and recurring expenses, and extend privileges and immunities to the university and its staff. It also enables the university to apply its rules retrospectively to validate past appointments and financial decisions.

Who it concerns: Nalanda University, its Governing Board, academic staff, Deans, Provosts, and the Government of India. It also involves Member States of the East Asia Summit and international partners.

What the bill does

• Amends the composition of the Governing Board to include five members nominated by East Asia Summit Member States and two members of the academic faculty.
• Allows the Government of India to meet both capital and recurring expenditure of the University to the extent required.
• Inserts new sections for the appointment of Deans and Provosts, with their terms and conditions prescribed by Statutes.
• Extends privileges and immunities to the University, its academic staff, and their dependents under the United Nations (Privileges and Immunities) Act, 1947.
• Empowers the University to give retrospective effect to its Statutes, Ordinances, and Regulations from the date of the original Act's commencement, provided it does not prejudicially affect any person's interests.
• Changes the name of 'Boards of School' to 'Councils of Schools' and updates academic titles such as 'Readerships' to 'Associate Professorships'.
• Allows the appointment of faculty from other universities or academic institutions, including those outside India, for a specified period.

Also in the document

• The Bill is an amendment to the Nalanda University Act, 2010.
• It includes provisions for retrospective effect of certain rules to provide a legal basis for actions taken before the rules were formally in force.
• The Financial Memorandum notes projected capital expenditure of Rs. 2154.35 crores and recurring expenditure of Rs. 1,378.27 crores based on a Project Report by Educational Consultants India Ltd.