What caused Osmania University’s ranking drop from 38th to 64th? CAG explains
HYDERABAD: Osmania University (OU), once leading among India’s institutions of higher learning, now faces an institutional crisis. The latest Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report cites governance paralysis, severe faculty shortages, decaying infrastructure, and a steep drop in national rankings.
The audit report, tabled for the period ended March 2022, paints a grim picture of the 107-year-old university. It highlights systemic failures in academic administration, research, financial management, and infrastructure development. These failures have contributed to the university’s steady fall from grace.
The CAG found that critical statutory bodies essential for the university’s functioning remained either unconstituted or inactive for extended periods. The Academic Senate and the College Development Council (CDC) did not conduct mandatory meetings. The Finance Committee faced delays in its constitution, while the Faculty of Studies for three subject streams was never established. Additionally, the Board of Studies for 36 departments was not renewed.
These governance failures, the report noted, had a cascading effect. Curricula for 43 academic departments remained unreformed; no new institutions or departments were established; and several colleges operating under the university continued to function without accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
Although the university prepared a Vision and Strategy Document in 2018, the CAG observed no actionable plans were developed. There were no short, medium, or long-term steps to achieve institutional goals. One ambitious target was to raise foreign students to 30 per cent within five years. Instead, the number of foreign students fell sharply.
The report highlighted a deepening human resource crisis. Faculty vacancies increased from 26 per cent in 2017-18 to a staggering 38 per cent in 2021-22, including contractual positions. Non-teaching staff shortages were at 34 per cent as of March 2023. This shortage raised the Faculty-Student Ratio (FSR) to between 1:23 and 1:33, well above the desired 1:15. The audit found the ratio favorable only in 2017-18 and 2019-20.
The university’s placement record for registered students showed troubling volatility. It ranged from a low of 26 per cent to a high of 54 per cent between academic years 2017-18 and 2020-21. Seven out of 18 colleges under the university had not set up the required Career and Counselling Cells. This left students without structured career guidance.
On the infrastructure front, the CAG found several ongoing issues. These include incomplete projects, overcrowded hostels, and under-utilized buildings. The university also failed to collect lease payments on land it leased out, causing significant revenue loss.
The audit flagged major lapses in research management. There was non-compliance with grant conditions, and research scholars faced substantial project delays. A notable gap also appeared in patent acquisition; neither faculty nor students secured patents. The university could not ensure timely use of government grants or the completion of sanctioned works, which increased its financial and academic challenges.
The CAG noted that systemic failures led to the university’s rankings dropping sharply. Osmania University fell from 38th nationally in 2017 to 64th in 2023. Its university ranking dropped from 23rd in 2017 to 36th in 2023.
To arrest this decline, the CAG urged the State Government and university to act urgently. All administrative and academic bodies must be created and made functional. The CAG also called for action-oriented plans aligned with the Vision Document and immediate steps in all areas affecting NAAC accreditation.
The audit further recommended filling vacant teaching and non-teaching posts as per norms. It also advised collecting outstanding lease rentals. Additionally, it suggested exploring ways to boost internal revenue to reduce dependence on state funding. An effective monitoring mechanism was emphasized to ensure timely fund use and project completion.
The findings are part of the CAG’s report on the General, Social, and Economic Sectors. They are based on a test-check of accounts and transactions across ten government departments during 2021-22.
