The influx of displaced persons after the partition of the country in 1947 resulted in the population of Delhi doubling itself in two years, rising from 7 lakhs in 1946-47 to 14-1/2 lakhs in 1948-49. Since then, also for a variety of reasons, the population has increased at a rapid rate and at present it is estimated to be of the order of 26 lakhs. The abnormal rise inevitably hrough. a corresponding growth in the student population seeking admission to colleges. The number of constituent and altuiated colleges of the University of Delhi has increased from 7 in 1947-48 to 31 in 1963-64 .......The number of students seeking admission to colleges is increasing by about 2,000 every year, with the result that the problem of finding additional accommodation for the increasing number of students each year has assumed serious proportions.

2. In 1960, the University Grants Commission observed that the Delhi University was growing into an unwieldy and cumbersome institution and that it would he desirable to set up another University in New Delhi to enable the present University of Delhi to arrest dilution of its academic and research standards and to develop on its own distinctive lines as envisaged at the time of its inception.

3. The University of Delhi also strongly supported the proposal both on administrative and academic grounds. The University authorities emphasised that, because of the long distances and the mounting enrolment not only had the University become too large to be managed efficiently but its academic standards were also in danger of serious deterioration. They therefore, strongly recoatmended that a new University be set up in Delhi as early as possible.

4. The growth of new knowledge in recent years and the significant advancement of learning in various academic fields all over the world have brought into bold relief the inadequacy of the present arrangements in the country. It is being increasingly realised that the country's social, economic and cultural development depends in a large measure upon the quality, variety and extent of higher education and research in the Universities.

5. In order to make adequate provision for the large and increasing student population of Delhi for education of the highest quality and for the advancement of knowledge and research, it is proposed to establish a University in New Delhi to be named after the late Jawaharlal Nehru. The proposed University will embody a unique synthesis of Humanities, the Sciences and Technology worthy of the great son of India after whom it is to be named and thus perpetuate the memory of the many-sided genius of the late Prime Minister.

6. The present Bill seeks to give effect to the above proposal ". Gazette of India, 24-12-1964, Pt. 11, Section 2 Extra, p. 1015.

[22nd December, 1966]

An Act to establish and incorporate a university in Delhi.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventeenth Year of the Republic of India as follows:-