Context-On the occasion of National Girl Child Day, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has set up 10 Chairs in different fields with an aim to carry out research activities to encourage women.

Chairs named after eminent Women

• The initiative is called “the Establishment of Chairs in the Universities in the name of eminent women administrators, artists, scientists and social reformers”.
• It is being launched with the assistance of University Grants Commission (UGC).
• The main objective is to inspire women to pursue higher education and to achieve excellence in their area of work.
• The financial implications of the proposal is Rs. 50 lakh per Chair per year and the total expenditure for establishing ten Chairs will be approximately Rs. Rs. 5 crore per annum.
• The Chairs are to be established for a period of 5 years initially as per the guidelines.

The chairs proposed by UGC and approved by the Ministry are as under:

 Functions of these chairs

• Academic functions of the Chairs will be to engage in research and, in turn, contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the area of the study, strengthen the role of university/academics in public policy making etc.
• The University will review the progress of the Chair annually and submit a final report on the activities and outcome of the Chair to the UGC after five years.
• However, the UGC may undertake the exercise of reviewing the Chair for its continuance, at any stage.