News Analysis India

Tag: UGC

  • UGC asks students not to take admission in Bible Open University of India in Visakhapatnam

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Thursday asked students not to take admission in Bible Open University of India in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, describing it as a ‘self-styled institution’, which may jeopardise the career of the students. Kavita (300)

    In a public notice issued on Thursday, the UGC, which had earlier issued a warning to the self-styled university following a complaint for functioning as a “University” without authority and for issuing Bachelor, Master and PhD Degrees to students.

    The UGC said that it has come to their notice that Bible Open University of India, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh is offering various degree courses/programmes in gross violation of the UGC Act, 1956.

    Citing section 22 of the UGC Act, 1956, the UGC said it stipulates that the right of conferring or granting degrees shall be exercised only by a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act or an institution deemed to be a University under Section 3 or an institution specially empowered by an Act of Parliament of confer or grant degrees.

    The UGC said Bible Open University of India is neither enlisted under Section 2(f) or Section 3 in the list of Universities nor empowered to award any degree as per Section 22 of the UGC Act, 1956.

    Also, no institution, whether a corporate body or not, other than a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act shall be entitled to have the word “University” associated with its name in any manner whatsoever.

    “Therefore, the general Public, students, parents and other stakeholders are cautioned through this public notice NOT TO TAKE ADMISSION in the above mentioned self-styled institution, taking admission in such self-styled institution may jeopardize the career of the students,” the notice said.

    NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Thursday asked students not to take admission in Bible Open University of India in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, describing it as a ‘self-styled institution’, which may jeopardise the career of the students. Kavita (300)

    In a public notice issued on Thursday, the UGC, which had earlier issued a warning to the self-styled university following a complaint for functioning as a “University” without authority and for issuing Bachelor, Master and PhD Degrees to students.

    The UGC said that it has come to their notice that Bible Open University of India, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh is offering various degree courses/programmes in gross violation of the UGC Act, 1956.

    Citing section 22 of the UGC Act, 1956, the UGC said it stipulates that the right of conferring or granting degrees shall be exercised only by a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act or an institution deemed to be a University under Section 3 or an institution specially empowered by an Act of Parliament of confer or grant degrees.

    The UGC said Bible Open University of India is neither enlisted under Section 2(f) or Section 3 in the list of Universities nor empowered to award any degree as per Section 22 of the UGC Act, 1956.

    Also, no institution, whether a corporate body or not, other than a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act shall be entitled to have the word “University” associated with its name in any manner whatsoever.

    “Therefore, the general Public, students, parents and other stakeholders are cautioned through this public notice NOT TO TAKE ADMISSION in the above mentioned self-styled institution, taking admission in such self-styled institution may jeopardize the career of the students,” the notice said.

  • 25 per cent extra seats, no entrance test for foreign students: UGC’s plan to increase international outreach

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Universities and higher education institutions across the country will now be allowed to create up to 25 per cent supernumerary seats for foreign students in their undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) programmes, UGC chairman Jagadesh Kumar has told PTI.

    There will be no entrance tests for these admissions, Kumar said, adding that the decision was taken at a meeting of the University Grants Commission (UGC) held last week to discuss “internationalisation of UG and PG programmes in India.

    ” The supernumerary seats will be created over and above the total sanctioned strength and the decision regarding these seats will be taken by concerned higher educational institutions (HEIs) according to specific guidelines and regulations issued by the regulatory bodies considering the infrastructure, faculty and other requirements.

    “Indian HEIs may admit international students based on the equivalence of entry qualification held by them. The equivalence is to be determined by UGC or any other body recognised by UGC for such purpose or the concerned regulatory bodies of the country. HEIs may adopt a transparent admission process for admitting the international students,” Kumar told PTI.

    “HEIs may create up to 25 per cent supernumerary seats for international students, over and above of their total sanctioned enrolment for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The decision regarding 25 per cent supernumerary seats has to be carried out by the concerned higher educational institutions as per specific guidelines/regulations issued by the regulatory bodies considering the infrastructure, faculty and other requirements,” he added.

    The supernumerary seats for international students will not include the international students under exchange programmes and through Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between institutions or between Indian government and other countries.

    The HEIs will also be permitted to admit international students using a transparent admission process as is done by the foreign universities and that these students do not have to go through the entrance process used for admissions in India.

    “The seats shall be exclusively meant for the international students both in the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. A seat remained unfilled in the supernumerary category, shall not be allocated to anyone other than an international student. International students in this context shall be defined as the one who shall possess a foreign passport,” Kumar explained.

    The commission has decided that the provision of creating supernumerary seats for international students should be formalised by way of approval of statutory body of the HEIs in accordance with the guidelines and regulations issued by the regulatory bodies from time to time.

    “The supernumerary seats in professional and technical institutes shall be governed by the respective statutory bodies. All details regarding the number of seats available for international students in each programme, fee prescribed for the same, admission process, eligibility conditions etc shall be made available on the website of the HEI,” he said.

    According to Ministry of External Affairs’ data, a total of 23,439 foreign students arrived in India in 2021.

    However, the number used to higher in pre-pandemic years.

    In 2019, over 75,000 international students had come to India for higher studies.

    “Internationalisation of higher education is an essential aspect of the National Education Policy 2020 and helps in integrating the international and intercultural dimensions in higher education,” Kumar said.

    “Opportunities to attract international students, academics and funding are growing and many Indian HEIs are now committed to increase their international outreach,” Kumar said.

    “In order to facilitate the internationalisation of Indian HEIs, the UGC has framed the guidelines for admission and creation of supernumerary seats for international students. The main objectives of these guidelines are to facilitate a smooth and simple admission of international students in higher educational institutions of India, to create a favourable environment for attracting international students to Indian higher education system, and to make India a preferred destination for international students,” he added.

    NEW DELHI: Universities and higher education institutions across the country will now be allowed to create up to 25 per cent supernumerary seats for foreign students in their undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) programmes, UGC chairman Jagadesh Kumar has told PTI.

    There will be no entrance tests for these admissions, Kumar said, adding that the decision was taken at a meeting of the University Grants Commission (UGC) held last week to discuss “internationalisation of UG and PG programmes in India.

    ” The supernumerary seats will be created over and above the total sanctioned strength and the decision regarding these seats will be taken by concerned higher educational institutions (HEIs) according to specific guidelines and regulations issued by the regulatory bodies considering the infrastructure, faculty and other requirements.

    “Indian HEIs may admit international students based on the equivalence of entry qualification held by them. The equivalence is to be determined by UGC or any other body recognised by UGC for such purpose or the concerned regulatory bodies of the country. HEIs may adopt a transparent admission process for admitting the international students,” Kumar told PTI.

    “HEIs may create up to 25 per cent supernumerary seats for international students, over and above of their total sanctioned enrolment for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The decision regarding 25 per cent supernumerary seats has to be carried out by the concerned higher educational institutions as per specific guidelines/regulations issued by the regulatory bodies considering the infrastructure, faculty and other requirements,” he added.

    The supernumerary seats for international students will not include the international students under exchange programmes and through Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between institutions or between Indian government and other countries.

    The HEIs will also be permitted to admit international students using a transparent admission process as is done by the foreign universities and that these students do not have to go through the entrance process used for admissions in India.

    “The seats shall be exclusively meant for the international students both in the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. A seat remained unfilled in the supernumerary category, shall not be allocated to anyone other than an international student. International students in this context shall be defined as the one who shall possess a foreign passport,” Kumar explained.

    The commission has decided that the provision of creating supernumerary seats for international students should be formalised by way of approval of statutory body of the HEIs in accordance with the guidelines and regulations issued by the regulatory bodies from time to time.

    “The supernumerary seats in professional and technical institutes shall be governed by the respective statutory bodies. All details regarding the number of seats available for international students in each programme, fee prescribed for the same, admission process, eligibility conditions etc shall be made available on the website of the HEI,” he said.

    According to Ministry of External Affairs’ data, a total of 23,439 foreign students arrived in India in 2021.

    However, the number used to higher in pre-pandemic years.

    In 2019, over 75,000 international students had come to India for higher studies.

    “Internationalisation of higher education is an essential aspect of the National Education Policy 2020 and helps in integrating the international and intercultural dimensions in higher education,” Kumar said.

    “Opportunities to attract international students, academics and funding are growing and many Indian HEIs are now committed to increase their international outreach,” Kumar said.

    “In order to facilitate the internationalisation of Indian HEIs, the UGC has framed the guidelines for admission and creation of supernumerary seats for international students. The main objectives of these guidelines are to facilitate a smooth and simple admission of international students in higher educational institutions of India, to create a favourable environment for attracting international students to Indian higher education system, and to make India a preferred destination for international students,” he added.

  • ‘CUET cancelled at some centres following alleged sabotage’: UGC chief on ‘glitches’ during exam

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Noting that there were reports and indications of “sabotage” in the conduct of the Common University Entrance Test-Undergraduate, UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar on Sunday said the exam at certain centres was cancelled keeping the best interest of students in mind.

    Kumar said strict action will be taken against anyone involved in “wilful sabotage” of the process.

    “There were reports and indications of sabotage in the process. NTA (National Testing Agency) immediately swung into action and cancelled and postponed examinations in centres which witnessed such a possibility. Strict action will be taken against anyone involved in wilful sabotage of the process,” Kumar said.

    “Cancellation of the test in some centres was done keeping the best interests of the students in mind. NTA is constantly in touch with the students through email, messaging and voice mail to keep them informed of the changes and extra care is being taken in this regard,” he added.

    On reports that some students were turned away from exam venues, the University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman said the staffers at certain centres should have shown more empathy with students.

    “More school teachers are being deployed as they have more experience of dealing with the students with empathy. Due to the efforts and corrective actions taken by NTA, we are hopeful that in the coming days, the CUET-UG will be conducted smoothly,” he said.

    The CUET is being conducted for admission to undergraduate courses in central universities.

    CUET)-UG for candidates, who were affected by cancellations last week owing to technical glitches, will now be conducted from August 24 to 28, according to officials of the National Testing Agency.

    Fresh admit cards will be issued for these candidates, they said.

    “In second phase, the exam scheduled between August 4 to 6 were deferred at few centres due to administrative and technical reasons.

    Earlier, we had announced the exams would be conducted from August 12-14.

    NTA had also given an option to the affected candidates to choose dates other than these dates in case the schedule was not suitable to them,” said Sadhana Parashar, Senior Director, NTA.

    A total of “15,811 candidates requested a date different from 12 to 14 August 2022.

    Similarly, many candidates have approached NTA requesting not to schedule their examination between 12 to 14 August as a series of festivals are falling during this period.

    Also, many candidates had requested for date or city change as the cities allotted to them in Phase II (04 to 06 August 2022) were not suitable to them,” she added.

    The NTA official said that keeping in mind the requests, it was decided that the exam be conducted between August 24 and 28 and fresh admit cards will be issued before the examination date.

    The third phase of the examination on 17, 18, and 20 August, 2022 will be conducted as per schedule informed earlier to the candidates.

    “NTA has also created an exclusive grievance redressal e-mail. The grievances of candidates regarding subject combination, medium, question paper (if any) can be sent to [email protected]. Candidates must mention their Application Number while sending their grievance,” Parashar said.

    The second phase of CUET-UG which began on Thursday, August 4 was marred with glitches causing trouble to students who were sent back from exam centres.

    On Thursday, the first shift of the exam was cancelled at several centres across 17 states, while the second shift was cancelled at all 489 centres.

    On Friday, the exam was cancelled at 50 centres.

    Anticipating the same situation on Saturday, the agency cancelled the CUET-UG for the day at 53 centres and sent messages to candidates about its postponement on Friday night.

    Noting that some centres failed to comply (with the) laid down protocols, the NTA had on Saturday warned that any incidence of non-compliance, sabotage and ignorance will be viewed very seriously and strict action will be taken against those centres to ensure smooth conduct of examinations in future.

    UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar had in March announced that CUET scores will be the basis for admission to 45 central universities which can fix their minimum eligibility criteria.

    With 14.9 lakh registrations, the CUET is now the second-biggest entrance exam in the country, surpassing the JEE-Main’s average registration of nine lakh.

    Apart from central universities, 12 state universities, 11 deemed universities, and 19 private universities have applied to participate in the first edition of CUET-UG for admissions in the academic session 2022-23.

    NEW DELHI: Noting that there were reports and indications of “sabotage” in the conduct of the Common University Entrance Test-Undergraduate, UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar on Sunday said the exam at certain centres was cancelled keeping the best interest of students in mind.

    Kumar said strict action will be taken against anyone involved in “wilful sabotage” of the process.

    “There were reports and indications of sabotage in the process. NTA (National Testing Agency) immediately swung into action and cancelled and postponed examinations in centres which witnessed such a possibility. Strict action will be taken against anyone involved in wilful sabotage of the process,” Kumar said.

    “Cancellation of the test in some centres was done keeping the best interests of the students in mind. NTA is constantly in touch with the students through email, messaging and voice mail to keep them informed of the changes and extra care is being taken in this regard,” he added.

    On reports that some students were turned away from exam venues, the University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman said the staffers at certain centres should have shown more empathy with students.

    “More school teachers are being deployed as they have more experience of dealing with the students with empathy. Due to the efforts and corrective actions taken by NTA, we are hopeful that in the coming days, the CUET-UG will be conducted smoothly,” he said.

    The CUET is being conducted for admission to undergraduate courses in central universities.

    CUET)-UG for candidates, who were affected by cancellations last week owing to technical glitches, will now be conducted from August 24 to 28, according to officials of the National Testing Agency.

    Fresh admit cards will be issued for these candidates, they said.

    “In second phase, the exam scheduled between August 4 to 6 were deferred at few centres due to administrative and technical reasons.

    Earlier, we had announced the exams would be conducted from August 12-14.

    NTA had also given an option to the affected candidates to choose dates other than these dates in case the schedule was not suitable to them,” said Sadhana Parashar, Senior Director, NTA.

    A total of “15,811 candidates requested a date different from 12 to 14 August 2022.

    Similarly, many candidates have approached NTA requesting not to schedule their examination between 12 to 14 August as a series of festivals are falling during this period.

    Also, many candidates had requested for date or city change as the cities allotted to them in Phase II (04 to 06 August 2022) were not suitable to them,” she added.

    The NTA official said that keeping in mind the requests, it was decided that the exam be conducted between August 24 and 28 and fresh admit cards will be issued before the examination date.

    The third phase of the examination on 17, 18, and 20 August, 2022 will be conducted as per schedule informed earlier to the candidates.

    “NTA has also created an exclusive grievance redressal e-mail. The grievances of candidates regarding subject combination, medium, question paper (if any) can be sent to [email protected]. Candidates must mention their Application Number while sending their grievance,” Parashar said.

    The second phase of CUET-UG which began on Thursday, August 4 was marred with glitches causing trouble to students who were sent back from exam centres.

    On Thursday, the first shift of the exam was cancelled at several centres across 17 states, while the second shift was cancelled at all 489 centres.

    On Friday, the exam was cancelled at 50 centres.

    Anticipating the same situation on Saturday, the agency cancelled the CUET-UG for the day at 53 centres and sent messages to candidates about its postponement on Friday night.

    Noting that some centres failed to comply (with the) laid down protocols, the NTA had on Saturday warned that any incidence of non-compliance, sabotage and ignorance will be viewed very seriously and strict action will be taken against those centres to ensure smooth conduct of examinations in future.

    UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar had in March announced that CUET scores will be the basis for admission to 45 central universities which can fix their minimum eligibility criteria.

    With 14.9 lakh registrations, the CUET is now the second-biggest entrance exam in the country, surpassing the JEE-Main’s average registration of nine lakh.

    Apart from central universities, 12 state universities, 11 deemed universities, and 19 private universities have applied to participate in the first edition of CUET-UG for admissions in the academic session 2022-23.

  • Those who missed CUET due to exam centre change to get another chance: NTA officials

    Before the exam, several aspirants have raised concerns over having to give too many exams in a short period, delay in admit cards and not being given the choice of centre.

  • CUET from Friday, last-minute anxiety, confusion grips students

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Even as the first-ever Common University Entrance Test-UG, the country’s second biggest examination after NEET-UG in terms of sheer numbers of applicants, will begin on Friday, anxiety and confusion gripped students about the new exam pattern as many of them will be travelling long distances from their home cities to exam centres.

    The University Grants Commission (UGC) has assured the students that their request for a change of examination centre will be considered. Still, it hasn’t reduced the tension. Phase 1 of the exam will begin on Friday in over 510 cities in India and ten cities abroad. The second phase will be in August. The last exam is on August 20.

    UGC Chairperson, M. Jagadesh Kumar, accepted that students who are appearing for CUET-UG have requested for change of examination centre. 

    Requests for a change of centres are being considered by the National Testing Agency (NTA), and students need not feel anxious about it, Kumar said.

    But that’s not the end of their worries. Students complained about delays in receiving admit cards and less time for preparation for those appearing in phase 1 of the CUET exam. Also, many flagged that on the same day, they had to take multiple papers. 

    With 14.9 lakh registrations, CUET, the standard gateway for undergraduate admission in all central universities, is now the second biggest entrance exam surpassing the Joint Entrance Examination-Main’s average registration of nine lakh.

    NEET-UG is the most prominent entrance test in India, with an average of 18 lakh registrations.

    Nearly 14,90,000 candidates have registered for CUET UG 2022, of which 8,10,000 have been allotted Phase I and 6,80,000 have been taken in Phase II of the CUET-UG 2022 exam.

    These candidates have applied for 54,555 unique combinations of subjects across 90 universities, including Delhi University and Jamia Millia Islamia.

    As there are a large number of subjects, a unique date sheet for every individual candidate has been created, said Kumar. 

    Accordingly, advance intimation slip for examination city to all candidates with the date and city of the exam has been issued followed by admit cards, he added. 

    Candidates who have opted for Physics, Chemistry or Biology have been assigned for Phase 2 of the CUET exam given the NEET (UG) – 2022 will be held on July 17.

    Elaborating on the scoring format, Kumar said it would be the NTA score in percentile format. 

    “The score will indicate a candidate’s position vis-a-vis other candidates who took the test. It is an indicator of the candidate’s relative position,” he said. 

    Kumar, in March, had announced that CUET scores, and not Class 12 marks, would be mandatory for admission to 45 central universities, which can fix their minimum eligibility criteria. 

    As students taking state boards had raised concerns about being at a disadvantage while getting admissions to undergraduate programmes, Kumar said with CUET, they will not be facing problems under the new system, and the exam will not push the coaching culture. 

    A total of 44 central universities, 12 state universities, 11 deemed universities, and 19 private universities have applied to participate in the CUET for UG admissions in the 2022-23 academic session. 

    The UGC has also asked universities to fix their deadline for admission to undergraduate courses after CBSE declares its class 12 exam results. Some universities have started their admission process even though the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) was yet to declare the class 12 marks; the UGC said this would lead to the board’s students being deprived of a seat in these institutes. The class 12 results are expected in the last week of July.

    NEW DELHI: Even as the first-ever Common University Entrance Test-UG, the country’s second biggest examination after NEET-UG in terms of sheer numbers of applicants, will begin on Friday, anxiety and confusion gripped students about the new exam pattern as many of them will be travelling long distances from their home cities to exam centres.

    The University Grants Commission (UGC) has assured the students that their request for a change of examination centre will be considered. Still, it hasn’t reduced the tension. Phase 1 of the exam will begin on Friday in over 510 cities in India and ten cities abroad. The second phase will be in August. The last exam is on August 20.

    UGC Chairperson, M. Jagadesh Kumar, accepted that students who are appearing for CUET-UG have requested for change of examination centre. 

    Requests for a change of centres are being considered by the National Testing Agency (NTA), and students need not feel anxious about it, Kumar said.

    But that’s not the end of their worries. Students complained about delays in receiving admit cards and less time for preparation for those appearing in phase 1 of the CUET exam. Also, many flagged that on the same day, they had to take multiple papers. 

    With 14.9 lakh registrations, CUET, the standard gateway for undergraduate admission in all central universities, is now the second biggest entrance exam surpassing the Joint Entrance Examination-Main’s average registration of nine lakh.

    NEET-UG is the most prominent entrance test in India, with an average of 18 lakh registrations.

    Nearly 14,90,000 candidates have registered for CUET UG 2022, of which 8,10,000 have been allotted Phase I and 6,80,000 have been taken in Phase II of the CUET-UG 2022 exam.

    These candidates have applied for 54,555 unique combinations of subjects across 90 universities, including Delhi University and Jamia Millia Islamia.

    As there are a large number of subjects, a unique date sheet for every individual candidate has been created, said Kumar. 

    Accordingly, advance intimation slip for examination city to all candidates with the date and city of the exam has been issued followed by admit cards, he added. 

    Candidates who have opted for Physics, Chemistry or Biology have been assigned for Phase 2 of the CUET exam given the NEET (UG) – 2022 will be held on July 17.

    Elaborating on the scoring format, Kumar said it would be the NTA score in percentile format. 

    “The score will indicate a candidate’s position vis-a-vis other candidates who took the test. It is an indicator of the candidate’s relative position,” he said. 

    Kumar, in March, had announced that CUET scores, and not Class 12 marks, would be mandatory for admission to 45 central universities, which can fix their minimum eligibility criteria. 

    As students taking state boards had raised concerns about being at a disadvantage while getting admissions to undergraduate programmes, Kumar said with CUET, they will not be facing problems under the new system, and the exam will not push the coaching culture. 

    A total of 44 central universities, 12 state universities, 11 deemed universities, and 19 private universities have applied to participate in the CUET for UG admissions in the 2022-23 academic session. 

    The UGC has also asked universities to fix their deadline for admission to undergraduate courses after CBSE declares its class 12 exam results. Some universities have started their admission process even though the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) was yet to declare the class 12 marks; the UGC said this would lead to the board’s students being deprived of a seat in these institutes. The class 12 results are expected in the last week of July.

  • UGC extends CUET (UG)-2022 application deadline to May 31 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Friday announced the extension of application deadline for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET)-UG till May 31.

    Over 11.5 lakh candidates have already registered for the test.

    “In view of representations received from candidates regarding giving them an opportunity to submit their online application form for CUET (UG)-2022, we have decided to keep the application process open again from May 27 till May 31,” UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar said.

    The UGC chief had in March announced that CUET scores, and not Class 12 marks, would be mandatory for admission to 45 central universities, and that the central universities can fix their minimum eligibility criteria.

  • In a first, UGC allows students to pursue two full-time academic programmes simultaneously

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Tuesday announced that students will now be able to simultaneously pursue two-full time academic programmes, which will help expand their knowledge and skill-set.

    This provides flexibility to a student to pursue any combination of a diploma programme and an undergraduate (UG) degree, two master’s programmes or even two bachelor’s programmes, not only in physical or online mode but in combination mode too. They can do it at the same university or from different universities.

    The guidelines in this regard will be uploaded on the UGC website on Wednesday.

    This is the first time such a programme has been envisaged. Earlier, the UGC regulations did not allow students to pursue two full-time programmes.

    The guidelines will apply to all the programmes available across the country and universities can implement it only after the approval of the universities’ statutory bodies. However, it will not be mandatory for them.

    In a virtual meeting, UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar said under the National Education Policy (NEP), the latest move aims to offer flexibility and personalisation of higher education and even allow multidisciplinary education across various domains for students.

    He added that if a student is eligible to pursue a postgraduate (UG) degree and wants to enroll in a bachelor’s degree in a different domain, they will be able to pursue a UG and PG degree simultaneously. However, the class timing for both programmes must not clash.

    This would also mean that students can now pursue two-degree programmes across sciences, social sciences, arts, humanities, and various disciplines.

    He clarified that the guidelines only apply to lecture-based courses, including undergraduate, postgraduate and diploma programmes. MPhil and PhD programmes will not fall under the same scheme.

    Students will also have multiple entry and exit options introduced by the NEP.

    The university will decide on attendance to a programme, he added.

  • SC permits NTA to declare results of NEET, 2021 for admissions in UG medical courses

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday permitted the National Testing Agency to declare the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to undergraduate medical courses across the country.

    A bench comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao, Sanjiv Khanna and B R Gavai stayed the Bombay High Court’s recent order asking the NTA not to declare the NEET results and conduct re-examination for two aspirants whose question papers and OMR sheets had got mixed up at a centre in Maharashtra.

    ALSO READ | HC orders probe into alleged manipulation in OMR sheet of NEET candidate in Kerala

    “We stay the high court judgement. The National Testing Agency can announce the results,” the bench said after taking note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who represented the NTA.

    NEET-UG: Supreme Court paves way of declaration of results of students who appeared in NEET-UG exam. Top court stayed the Bombay HC order for re-exam for 2 candidates that held up the results for everyone @NewIndianXpress
    — kanupsarda (@sardakanu_TNIE) October 28, 2021
    “We will decide what happens to the two students upon reopening (after Diwali vacation). In the meanwhile, we issue notice and file a counter. But we cannot hold the results of 16 lakh students,” the bench said.

    In an unprecedented order, the Bombay High Court on October 20 directed the NTA, set up in 2018 for conducting NEET for admission to undergraduate medical courses, to hold a fresh exams for the two students and declare their results along with the main results of the test conducted on September 12.

    The high court had taken note of the fact that the test booklet and OMR sheet of two medical aspirants — Vaishanavi Bhopali and Abhishek Shivaji, got mixed up at the examination centre before the start of the test and ordered that they be given fresh opportunity to appear.

    The NEET Entrance Exam was conducted on September 12, for 16,14,777 candidates, involving 3,682 centres in 202 cities, 9,548 Centre Superintendents/ Deputy Superintendents, 5,615 Observers, 2,69,378 Invigilators and 220 City Co-ordinators,” the NTA said in the plea.

  • UGC notification for Academic Consultant job out. Hurry up! Salary upto Rs 80,000

    By Online Desk

    The University Grants Commission (UGC) is hiring candidates for the post of Academic Consultant on a contract basis. Interested candidates may submit their filled-in application form supported by the relevant documents in online mode at www.ugc.ac.in/jobs. 

    The last date for submission of the application is 31 October 2021.

    Selected candidates will receive a monthly salary between Rs 70,000 to 80,000. The maximum age limit for applying for this position is 35 years. 

    The last date for submission of the application is October 31, 2021. The educational qualification is First Class Master’s Degree in any discipline from a recognized university/institute; NET in relevant discipline.

    The probation period for this job is at least six months and can be extended on the basis of performance review. UGC reserves the right to end the contract at any time without citing any reason.

  • Applied Maths to be treated at par with Maths for admission to UG courses in humanities, commerce

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed all varsities to treat the Applied Mathematics subject for class 12 students at par with Mathematics while calculating aggregate marks for admission to undergraduate courses for humanities and commerce.

    The directive by the UGC came following a request by the CBSE that noted that some universities make it mandatory for students to have studied mathematics as a subject at the senior secondary level to take admission in undergraduate courses in economics, commerce and social sciences.

    “The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced a course Applied Mathematics for students of classes 11 and 12.

    The subject involves 80 per cent marks for theory and 20 per cent marks for practical work in the board examination.

    This subject is offered under academic stream and has curriculum specifications that are compatible with the other major subjects,” UGC Secretary Rajnish Jain said in a letter to vice chancellors.

    This subject is a regular academic subject, he said.

    “The marks obtained by the candidates in this subject may be included for calculating the aggregate marks for deciding the eligibility for admission.

    Hence, Applied Mathematics may be considered at par with Mathematics while calculating aggregate marks for admission in courses of humanities and commerce, other than pure sciences,” Jain said.

    The commission has asked universities to take appropriate action for recognition of the new subject — Applied Mathematics — for admission of students in degree programmes.

    The CBSE had introduced Applied Mathematics as an academic elective which is in addition to the existing Mathematics subject offered by the board.

    The course was introduced primarily to increase the mathematical skills and knowledge required even in social science, humanities, commerce, accountancy and other aligned fields.

    The board had noted that the subject shall be beneficial to students, who want to pursue higher education in social sciences, commerce, fine arts and biological sciences.

    “It has been observed that some universities make it mandatory for the students to offer Mathematics at the senior secondary level to take admission in undergraduate courses in economics, commerce and social sciences etc,” the CBSE had said in a communication to the UGC “ln view of this, you are requested to consider the new Applied Mathematics course at par with the existing Mathematics course of CBSE for admission to higher studies in courses other than engineering, mathematics and physical sciences,” the board has told the commission recently.