The University Grants Commission (UGC), established in November 1956 as a statutory body of the Government of India through an Act of Parliament, has the unique distinction of being the only grant-giving agency in the country which has been vested with two responsibilities: that of providing funds and that of coordination, determination and maintenance of standards in institutions of higher education.

The UGC’s mandate includes Promoting and ,coordinating university education; Determining and maintaining standards of teaching, examination and research in Universities; Framing regulations on minimum standards of education; Monitoring developments in the field of collegiate and university education; Disbursing grants to the Universities and Colleges; Serving as a vital link between the Union and State Governments and institutions of higher learning;

Advising the Central and State Governments on the measures necessary for improvement of university education. To monitor standards of the higher educational institutions it has established the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC)as an autonomous body, under section 12 (CCC) of its Act in September 1994. NAAC is entrusted with the task of performance evaluation, assessment and accreditation of Universities and Colleges in the Country: The philosophy of NAAC is ameliorative and enabling’ rather than punitive or judgmental, so that all constituencies of institutions of higher learning are empowered to maximize their resources, opportunities and capabilities.

NAAC has been instilling a momentum of quality consciousness amongst Higher Educational Institutions (HEls or ‘Institutions’), aiming for continuous improvement. NAAC is triggering a ‘Quality Culture’ among the various constituents of the HEI, as well as enhancing the awareness of institutional Quality Assurance with all stakeholders. At this instance Punjab Technical University has proposed to establish the Internal Quality assurance Cell (ICAe) as a pre accreditation quality sustenance activity.

The IQAC is meant for planning, guiding and monitoring Quality Assurance (CA) and Quality Enhancement (QE) activities of the HEls. The ICAC may channelise and systematize the efforts and measures of an institution towards academic excellence.

• To develop a quality system for conscious, consistent and catalytic programmed action to improve the academic and administrative performance of the HEls;
• To promote measures for institutional functioning towards quality enhancement through internalization of quality culture and institutionalization of best practices.
• The documentation and record-keeping Cell for the institution including assistance in the development of API Criteria based performance based Appraisal System (PBAS) Performa using the indicative template separately developed by UGC.
• The IQAC may also introduce, wherever feasible, the student feedback system as per the NAAC guidelines on institutional parameters without incorporating the component of student’s assessment of individual teachers in the PBAS.
• Document and collate annually the performance of Teachers for follow up by the University /college authorities. To prepare and publicize within six months subject-wise lists of journals, periodicals and publishers under categories III A and B of PBAS.
• Implementation of CAS Promotion for teachers.

• Development and application of quality benchmarks/parameters for the various academic and administrative activities of the University;
• Facilitating the creation of a learner-centric environment conducive for quality education and faculty maturation to adopt the required knowledge and technology for participatory teaching and learning process;
• Arrangement for feedback responses from students, parent s and other stakeholders on quality related institutional processes;
• Dissemination of information on the various quality parameters of higher education;
• Organization of inter and intra University workshops, seminars on quality related themes and promotion of quality circles;
• Documentation of the various programmes/activities of the University, leading to quality improvement;
• Acting as a nodal agency of the University for Coordinating quality-related Activities, including adoption and dissemination of good practices;
• Development and maintenance of Institutional database through MIS for the purpose of maintaining /enhancing the institutional quality;
  Development of Quality Culture in University;
• Preparation of the Annual Quality Assurance Report (AQAR) of the University based on the quality parameters/assessment criteria developed by the relevant quality assurance body (like NAAC, NBA, AB) in the prescribed format;
• Bi-annual development of Quality Radars (QRs) and Ranking of Integral Units of HEIs based on the AQAR;
• Interaction with SQACs in the pre and post accreditation quality assessment, sustenance and enhancement endeavors.

• The AQAR shall be approved by the statutory bodies of the University (such as Syndicate, Governing Council/Board) for the follow up action for necessary quality enhancement measures.
• The Universities shall regularly submit the AQARs to the NAAC/other accreditation bodies.
• All Universities shall submit AQARs and/or Quality Radars (QRs) and follow up reports of AQARs to the UGC.
• The IQAC must create its exclusive window on University website, to regularly report on its 5 activities, as well as for hosting the AQAR.

• Ensure heightened level of clarity and focus in institutional functioning towards quality enhancement
• Ensure internalization of the quality culture;
• Ensure enhancement and integration among the various activities of the institution and institutionalize good practices;
• Provide a sound basis for decision-making to improve institutional functioning;
• Act as a dynamic system for quality changes in the University;
• Build an organized methodology of documentation and internal communication.

• To develop a quality system for conscious, consistent and catalytic programmed action to improve the academic and administrative performance of the University;
• To promote measures for institutional functioning towards quality enhancement through internalization of quality culture and institutionalization of best practices.