Hold oratory contest before Christmas, says UGC

NEW DELHI: UGC issued directive on Thursday to universities across the country to observe December 25 as ' Good Governance Day' to celebrate the birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. But it made it clear that the oratory competition be organized before the Christmas vacation.

"...a competition on oratory be organised in such a manner that it does not disturb the Christmas holidays and all activities regarding this must be completed before the Christmas break of colleges and universities under your jurisdiction," UGC said in a communication to the VCs.

UGC has said oratory or 'bhasan shailee' competition should be on use of technology and innovation in promotion of good governance. It has demanded that universities should inform the commission about steps taken.

After the recent controversy over the HRD ministry circular relating to plans for 'Good Governance Day' celebrations, the UGC directive only talks of oratory competition and that too before Christmas. The HRD ministry had asked central universities to hold a seminar.

The HRD ministry courted controversy over a circular by Navodya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) asking all its schools to observe December 25 — Christmas day — as 'Good Governance Day' that led to an uproar in Parliament.

Later HRD minister Smriti Irani said schools would remain closed on that day.