UGC Chairperson Ved Prakash Inaugurates Civil Services Coaching Academy Hostel

Professor Ved Prakash, Chairperson, University Grants Commission (UGC) inaugurated a Hostel Building meant for the students of Residential Coaching Academy (RCA) in Jamia Millia Islamia in the presence of Professor Talat Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia. This hostel is meant for Minorities, SC, ST and Women students who would be training for various competitive examinations particularly civil services examinations for top jobs in IAS, IPS, IFS, etc.

Speaking on the occasion, Professor Ved Prakash applauded the efforts of Jamia Millia Islamia to have a vibrant coaching academy which has the potential to outdo other institutions of its kind. He felt that Jamia Millia Islamia should compete with itself to reach greater heights. Commenting on the importance institutions, he averred educational institutions were the best conceived by human kind to provide a platform for human growth and realization of national and international aspirations. He expressed his desire to extend all possible support to Jamia Millia Islamia to realize all its academic objectives.

Earlier, Professor Talat Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia opined that the RCA in Jamia Millia Islamia would become a flagship institution in the country to train students from humble origins and weaker sections of the society such as SC, ST, Minorities and Women. He dwelt upon the strides that Jamia has taken to improve its teaching and research. He used the occasion to underline the importance of teaching and research and exhorted faculty and students to engage in research activities that would help them get research fellowships enabling them to become first rate-teachers. He thanked Professor Ved Prakash for his unstinted support to Jamia Millia Islamia and credited him with the establishment of five such premier residential coaching academies in different parts of the country and for being one of the primary mentors.

The RCA-Hostel Building has two blocks with 76 rooms with a capacity to accommodate 154 students with a Dining Hall, Kitchen, Reading Room, Common Room and residences for wardens. It also has water-sewerage plant which would allow it to recycle water for horticultural purposes.  The cost of RCA Hostel Building is in the neighbourhood of 7 crores.

The RCA now has an enhanced capacity of 200 students with 50 seats for girls. Last year, 91 students of RCA qualified the preliminary examinations of civil services and are being coached for the Main Examinations.

Professor Shahid Ashraf, Registrar, Jamia Millia Islamia proposed a vote of thanks to Professor Ved Prakash for his presence and encouraging words. He also thanked the faculty members, staff and students for their presence.

Earlier, Mr. Mohammad Tarique, Dy. Director, RCA welcomed the guests.

[This is an official Jamia Millia Islamia press release dated Jan. 12, 2015]