The UGC recommendations were made in an audit report of Aligarh Muslim University
Words such as "Hindu" and "Muslim" in names of universities -- Banaras Hindu University and Aligarh Muslim University -- do not reflect their secular character and should be dropped, a panel of the top education regulator UGC has recommended.
The University Grants Commission panel was formed to look into alleged irregularities in 10 central universities and the recommendations have been made in the audit report of Aligarh Muslim University.
Centrally funded universities are secular institutions, but words related to religion in their names do not reflect that character, said a panel member who asked not to be identified.
The universities can be called Aligarh University and Banaras University or be renamed after their founders, the panel member said.
The other universities that have been audited by the UGC panel include Allahabad University, Central University of Jharkhand, Central University of Rajasthan and Central University of Jammu, among others.