(1) It shall be the general duty of the Council to co-ordinate and determine standards in institutions of Higher Education or Research and Scientific and Technical Institutions in accordance with the guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission from time to time.
(2) The functions of the Council shall include,- I. PLANNlNG AND CO-ORDINATION:
(i) to prepare consolidated programmes in the sphere of Higher Education in the State in accordance with the guidelines that may be issued by the University Grants Commission from time to time, and to assist in their implementation, keeping in view the overall priorities and perspectives of Higher Education in the State;
(ii) to assist the University Grants Commission in respect of determination and maintenance of standards and suggest remedial action wherever necessary;
(iii) to evolve perspective plans for development of Higher Education in the State;
(iv) to forward the Developmental Programmes of Universities and colleges in the State to the University Grants Commission along with its comments and recommendations;
(v) to monitor the progress of implementation of such developmental programmes;
(vi) to promote co-operation and co-ordination of the educational institutions among themselves and explore the scope for inter-action with industry and other related establishments;
Powers and functions of the Council.
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(vii) to formulate the principles as per the guidelines of the Government and to decide upon, approve and sanction new educational institutions by according permission keeping in view the various norms and requirements to be fulfilled;
(viii) to suggest ways and means of meeting additional resources for higher education in the State.
II. ACADEMIC FUNCTIONS:
(i) to encourage and promote innovations in curricular development, restructuring of courses and updating of syllabi in the University and the colleges;
(ii) to promote and co-ordinate the programme of autonomous colleges and to monitor its implementation;
(iii) to devise steps to improve the standards of examinations conducted by the Universities and suggest necessary reforms;
(iv) to facilitate training of teachers in colleges and Universities;
(v) to develop programmes for greater academic co-operation and inter-action between University teachers and College teachers and to facilitate mobility of students and teachers within and outside the State;
(vi) to conduct entrance examination for admission to institutions of higher education and render advice on admissions;
(vii) to encourage sports, games, physical education and cultural activities in the Universities and colleges;
10 [Act No. 16 of 1988]
(viii) to encourage extension activities and promote interaction with agencies concerned with regional planning and development;
(ix) to prepare an overview report on the working of the Universities and the colleges in the State and to furnish a copy of the report to the University Grants Commission.
III. ADVISORY FUNCTIONS:
To advise the Government,-
(i) in determining the block maintenance grants and to lay down the basis for such grants;
(ii) on setting up a State Research Board so as to link research work of educational institutions with that of the research agencies and industry, keeping in view the overall research needs of the State;
(iii) on the Statutes and Ordinances to various Universities in the State (excluding Central Universities) and on the Statutes proposed by the Universities in the State;
(iv) to work in liaison with the Southern Regional Committee of the All India Council for Technical Education in the formulation of the schemes in the State;
(v) to make new institutions self sufficient and viable;
(vi) on the policy of „earning while learning‟.
(vii) to perform any other functions necessary for the furtherance of higher education in the State.
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12. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, and the 7[Telangana Intermediate Education Act, 1971], it shall be competent for the Government to entrust to the State Council all or any of the functions relating to Intermediate Education and such other matters for the orderly functioning of the Junior Colleges (including Co-operative and selffinancing Junior Colleges) and to seek such help and advice from the State Council in order to ensure the orderly and efficient functioning of such colleges in conformity with the overall objective and educational policy of the State and National Policy.