New Delhi, Dec 3 (IANS): The University Grants Commission (UGC) received 52 proposals from various varsities for establishing the Swami Vivekananda Chair, it was announced Wednesday.

"The UGC has received a total of 52 proposals - 36 from state universities, 11 from central universities and five from deemed universities - for the establishment of the Swami Vivekananda Chair," Human Resource Development Minister (HRD) Smriti Irani said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

The UGC had invited proposals from the vice chancellors of universities for setting up a chair for conducting research on the life, teachings and philosophy of Swami Vivekananda.

Irani had Sep 11 (the day Vivekananda delivered a speech at the World's Parliament of Religions in 1893) appealed to the vice chancellors of universities across the country to come forward and participate in this noble endeavour.

"I appeal to all these institutions to avail of this particular grant by the UGC," she had said while addressing the media at a conference highlighting the initiatives taken by her ministry in the first 100 days.