SSR DESCRIPTION 4 : 4.1.1., 4.1.2., 4.3.1., 4.4.2

4.1.1. Description of the adequacy of infrastructure and physical facilities for teaching-learning, viz., classrooms, laboratories, computing instrument etc. as per the minimum specified requirements by statutory bodies.

The adequacy of infrastructure and physical facilities in IGIPS is primarily governed by the norms and standards set by the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI). The PCI require the institute to provide specific, well-maintained facilities to ensure effective teaching-learning. 

General Requirements

• Own Building: The institution must operate from its own permanent building and not a rented or hired facility.
• Optimal Use: Facilities must be optimally used by all constituents (students, teachers, and staff).
• Maintenance: All facilities should be well-maintained, with adequate provisions for power backup, drinking water, and sanitation. 

Classrooms

Classrooms must be designed to accommodate the approved student intake and facilitate a learner-centric environment. 

• Number and Size: There must be a sufficient number of classrooms as per the specific course (D.Pharm or B.Pharm) and intake capacity, with each having a specified minimum area (e.g., essential area of 75 sq. mts for B.Pharm to accommodate 60 students).
• Amenities: Classrooms should be well-ventilated and equipped with essential amenities, including public address systems and ICT facilities such as LCD projectors and smart boards. 

Laboratories

Laboratories are the core of pharmacy education and require specific conditions for safety and practical training. 

• Number and Size: The number and size of laboratories are specified in the PCI's Standard Inspection Format (SIF) documents for various courses (e.g., B.Pharm requires a specific number of labs like Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, etc., each with a minimum essential area of 75 sq. mts).
• Safety and Environment:
  • All labs must be well-lit and ventilated, with exhaust fans and fume chambers where necessary.
  • Workbenches should be smooth, easily cleanable, and made of non-absorbent material.
  • Water taps should be non-leaking, installed directly on sinks, with efficient drainage.
• Attached Facilities: Specific attached rooms are required, such as a balance room for each lab, a machine room (approx. 100 sq. mts), an aseptic room (approx. 25 sq. mts), and separate stores for general and inflammable chemicals.
• Equipment: Labs must be equipped with adequate equipment and apparatus as per the affiliating university's curriculum, ensuring a student-to-experimental set-up ratio (ideally maximum four students per set). 

Computing Instruments and IT Infrastructure

Adequate computing facilities and ICT infrastructure are mandatory for modern teaching and learning. 

• Computer Centre: Institutions need a centralized computer laboratory with a sufficient number of computers and an adequate number of software licenses.
• ICT Enabled: The institution must utilize ICT-enabled facilities such as smart classes, Learning Management Systems (LMS), and other e-resources.
• Internet and Connectivity: All computing facilities and smart classrooms must have internet connectivity.
• Language Lab: A language laboratory with a minimum of 20 computers and appropriate software is required.

Other Essential Facilities

• Library: A well-equipped library with adequate book titles, volumes, and reading room area is essential.
• Common Rooms: Separate common rooms for boys and girls must be provided (minimum 60 sq. mts each).
• Staff Facilities: Adequate accommodation for offices, Principal's chamber, a board/meeting room, HOD cabins, and faculty rooms (10 sq. mts per teacher) is required. 

By meeting these detailed infrastructural requirements, a pharmacy college ensures compliance with the minimum standards specified by statutory bodies like the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), which is crucial for approval and accreditation. 

4.1.2. Description of the adequacy of facilities for sports, games and cultural activities which include specification about area/size, year of establishment and user rate.

A typical pharmacy college, in line with accreditation requirements, provides a range of adequate facilities for sports, games, and cultural activities to ensure the holistic development of students. These facilities are integrated into the campus infrastructure, often detailed in institutional reports for bodies like the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) or the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI). 

Sports and Games Facilities

Colleges typically offer a mix of indoor and outdoor facilities, established over the years to meet the growing needs of the student population. 

• Outdoor Facilities: These often include large playgrounds or dedicated fields for major sports.
  • Area/Size: Total area for sports and games fields can range, with some examples listing over 1299.87 Sq. Mts (approx. 14,000 sq. ft) or even expansive fields covering several thousand square meters for specific sports like cricket or football. Some colleges have dedicated sports areas of several acres.
  • Year of Establishment: Facilities are often developed incrementally since the college's inception, with major augmentations or new specific facilities (e.g., a new gymnasium) added in recent years (e.g., a gym started in 2019).
  • User Rate: The user rate is typically high, with regular use throughout the academic year. The facilities support daily student activities, inter-departmental matches, and annual sports meets. Participation is encouraged through annual sports days and university-level competitions, with high student involvement.
  • Specifics: Common outdoor options include cricket fields, football grounds, volleyball courts, basketball courts, and athletic tracks.
• Indoor Facilities: These provide year-round options regardless of weather conditions.
  • Area/Size: Dedicated indoor sports complexes or areas exist. Examples include a gymnasium of 135.85 Sq. Mtr (approx. 1,462 sq. ft) or a table tennis hall of 136.2 Sq. Mtr.
  • Year of Establishment: These are generally part of the main college infrastructure, available since the establishment of the relevant buildings.
  • User Rate: User rates are consistently high, catering to daily usage.
  • Specifics: Common indoor games include table tennis, chess, carrom, and badminton.
• Gymnasium and Wellness: Modern, well-equipped gymnasiums with cardio and strength-training equipment are common, often with certified trainers available. Some also include yoga rooms or sauna facilities. 

Cultural Activities Facilities

Cultural activities often use shared, multi-purpose spaces within the college campus. 

• Area/Size: Activities are generally held in auditoriums, seminar halls, or open-air stages.
  • Auditorium/Seminar Halls: These can vary widely in seating capacity, from 100-capacity seminar halls to large, 1200-capacity auditoriums.
  • Open Areas: Open stages or designated open areas are used for larger cultural events.
• Year of Establishment: These facilities are typically part of the initial college infrastructure or augmented over time (e.g., a new auditorium constructed).
• User Rate: Cultural facilities see peak usage during specific events, such as annual cultural festivals, induction programs, and national youth festivals. They are regularly used for various competitions, workshops, and guest lectures.
• Specifics: These venues host dance, music, drama, art exhibitions, and competitions, encouraging creativity and holistic development. 

Overall, these facilities are described as adequate and essential components of the curriculum, aiming to foster physical fitness, teamwork, leadership, and a balanced college experience. Colleges often employ physical directors and supporting staff to manage and maintain these resources. 

4.3.1. Description of IT facilities including Wi-Fi with date and nature of updation.

IT facilities at a pharmacy college typically include comprehensive network infrastructure, computer labs, digital classrooms, and various software applications, with frequent updates to support academic and research needs. 

General Description of IT Facilities

• Campus-wide Wi-Fi and LAN: Most campuses are fully networked with both wired (LAN) and wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity in all buildings, hostels, libraries, seminar halls, and common areas.
• High-Speed Internet Bandwidth: Colleges typically provide significant internet bandwidth, often a leased line, to ensure seamless access for all users. Bandwidths often range from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps or more.
• Computer Laboratories: Dedicated computer labs with a substantial number of high-configured systems are available for student use, often featuring specialized software for pharmaceutical research and studies.
• ICT-Enabled Classrooms: Classrooms are equipped with ICT facilities such as computers, LCD projectors, and smart boards to facilitate digital teaching and learning.
• Library Automation: Libraries utilize integrated Library Management System (ILMS) software and provide digital library sections with access to e-books, e-journals, and online databases.
• Security and Management: Network security is managed through firewalls, login systems with valid IP configurations, and continuous monitoring by a system administrator.
• Software: Colleges often use a mix of licensed and open-source software, including Microsoft Office 365, SPSS, specialized pharmaceutical software (e.g., x-pharmacology, AutoDock), and open-source operating systems. 

Examples of Wi-Fi and IT Updations (with Dates)

The nature and date of updates vary by institution, as they are typically performed based on institutional needs and budget cycles. Examples from various institutions include: 

• Cloud-Based Platforms and Bandwidth Upgrade: One institution introduced a cloud-based collaboration platform to facilitate virtual classrooms and upgraded its Wi-Fi infrastructure and bandwidth, with the last major update noted in December 2023.
• Wi-Fi Infrastructure Overhaul: Another college installed a new Wi-Fi facility with a Cisco wireless controller and 30 Cisco Aironet 2802 series Wireless Access Points in 2017, enabling Wi-Fi across the entire campus.
• Bandwidth Increment: An upgrade of internet bandwidth from 16 Mbps to 1 Gbps under a national scheme was in progress in 2011-2012, alongside upgrading the IT Centre network infrastructure from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps.
• Regular System Maintenance: Many colleges mention that computer systems are regularly formatted, updated with antivirus software, and replaced as part of ongoing maintenance procedures, which occur on a regular or annual basis.
• Procurement of New Equipment: Tenders for new core network switches and firewalls to upgrade infrastructure were uploaded recently, indicating ongoing investment and updates. 

4.4.2. Description of policy details of established systems and procedures for maintaining and utilizing physical, 

academic and support facilities (laboratory, library, sports

complex, computers, classrooms etc.) 

Pharmacy colleges utilize a decentralized, committee-based approach to maintain infrastructure, involving annual budget allocation, regular stock verification, and specialized staff (lab assistants, technicians) for upkeep. Key procedures include Annual Maintenance Contracts (AMCs) for sophisticated equipment, daily cleaning of classrooms/labs, and rigorous safety audits. 

Key Policy Details and Procedures:

• Laboratories (Pharmacy/Computer): Lab-in-charges and technicians oversee daily cleaning, equipment calibration, and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Dead stock verification is conducted annually.
• Library: Managed by a Library Advisory Committee, employing barcode systems for tracking, regular stock-taking, pest control, and, in some cases, 24/7 access during exams.
• Classrooms & Physical Infrastructure: Maintained by dedicated maintenance departments or custodial staff who ensure cleanliness, lighting, and ICT equipment (projectors, Wi-Fi) functionality.
• Sports Complex: Supervised by a sports committee and groundsmen, with maintenance performed regularly on equipment and grounds.
• Safety & Security: Routine maintenance of fire extinguishers, CCTV cameras, and security personnel monitoring. 

Key Aspects of Utilization & Upkeep:

• Preventive Maintenance: Regular servicing of equipment to prevent breakdowns.
• Budgeting: Annual allocation of funds for repairs and upgrades.
• Record Keeping: Maintenance registers are kept for all equipment.