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The National Testing Agency will conduct the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the academic year 2022-23, and test dates would be notified within a week, according to University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman M Jagdesh Kumar. The test would be required for admission to undergraduate courses at UGC-funded central universities, but state, private, and deemed-to-be universities will be able to opt out if they desire, he said. “All higher educational institutions, irrespective of whether they are state universities, private universities, or deemed to be universities, all of them can use the CUET scores for admission in UG and PG programmes. However, it may be noted that admission in UG programmes in all central universities funded by the UGC will be solely on CUET scores,” the UGC chairman said. “We have decided to give wide choice to students to pick the subjects…a candidate can take as many as six domain subjects in addition to a compulsory language test and also the general test,” he added. In CUET 2022, there will be 43 domain-specific subjects. According to the UGC chairman, universities can set their own minimum percentages for admission to UG programmes in class 12 board exams, and there would be no centralised CUET counselling process. The entrance test, according to the newly-appointed chairman of the UGC, will provide a common platform for admission to all universities and colleges across the country, as well as equal opportunities to students studying under different boards, particularly those from the North East region and other rural and remote areas. “CUET is expected to reduce the financial burden on parents and students since students do not have to write multiple entrance exams for admission to UG and PG programmes,” he added.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said on Sunday that the ancient gurukul system of education has played a significant role in the comprehensive and well-rounded development of individuals. In a Facebook post, Naidu mentioned his visit to Haridwar’s Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya on Saturday. He described the university as a non-conventional centre of higher learning, inspired by the ideals of Shriram Sharma Acharya, a spiritual leader and social reformer in modern India. “With around 1500 full-time residential students and researchers, the university is adopting a gurukul-type system of community living. “The institution is devoted to holistic education by combining practical knowledge (shiksha) with spiritual education (vidya) and seeks to provide a comprehensive learning experience to every student,” he posted on Facebook. The Vice President was reminded of the ancient gurukul system’s remarkable importance in the holistic and well-rounded development of individuals. Naidu expressed his excitement at learning that the university and Gayatri Parivar have been using music and folk songs to combat societal problems such as casteism and gender discrimination, as well as to promote nationalism among the public at large. He further mentioned that the university has its own gaushala (cow shelter) with around 300 cows of indigenous breeds. According to Naidu, the Swavalamban Kendra uses contemporary and scientific processes to make various cow products, and he is confident that such projects, in keeping with Gandhi ji’s Gramodyog idea, may give farmers with an alternative source of income. Source: PTI

According to revised norms proposed by the University Grants Commission, holders of four-year undergraduate degrees with a minimum CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) of 7.5 will be eligible for admission to PhD programmes. In its recent draft of amendments to the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedures for Award of Ph.D Degree) Regulations, 2016, the UGC also proposed that 60 percent of available seats in all higher education institutions be reserved for National Eligibility Test (NET)/ Junior Research Fellowship (NET-JRF) qualified candidates. During the 556th commission meeting on March 10, the draft UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of Ph.D. Degree) Regulations, 2022, were approved. The changes are in line with the National Education Policy, 2020 (NEP 2020). According to UGC officials familiar with the situation, the proposed regulations will be released for public comment on Thursday. While the admissions procedure would remain same, the draft guidelines revised the eligibility criteria following the discontinuation of the MPhil degree under NEP 2020 and the introduction of four-year undergraduate programmes (FYUP), according to the document. Universities and colleges will now be able to provide 4-year undergraduate degrees with several exit and entry options under the NEP 2020. Several universities, notably Jawaharlal Nehru University and Delhi University, have already made the decision to implement similar programmes beginning this year. Students will receive honours with a research undergraduate degree after finishing a four-year degree programme. Candidates with a four-year bachelor’s degree in research with a minimum 7.5 CGPA, as well as first and second-year postgraduate students (after completing a four-year programme), will be eligible for admission to PhD programmes under the new proposed rules. “The four-year undergraduate programme is beneficial to students in several ways,” UGC chairperson Jagadesh Kumar confirmed the development. Those interested in research in their final year have the option of doing multidisciplinary research or focusing on a single discipline. Those who excel in the four-year undergraduate degree are entitled to apply for a PhD programme. This, I believe, will enhance our country’s research ecosystem.” Candidates who have completed their M.Phil with at least a 55 percent aggregate will also be eligible. “The MPhil degree shall be de-specified from the Academic year 2022-23 onwards. MPhil degree awarded till the date of notification of these regulations shall remain valid,” the document stated. The document also stated that NET/JRF qualified students would fill 60% of the total unfilled seats for the academic year. “The remaining 40% qualified students on the basis of interviews conducted by the concerned institute through the university/common entrance test,” it stated. The minimum duration for completing a PhD has been reduced from three to two years under the new regulations, while the maximum duration has stayed fixed at six years. The UGC has also allowed research researchers to take time off to participate in research expeditions, research missions, and exchange programmes. The proposed laws also grant the financially deprived groups a 5% waiver in eligibility standards (EWS). The document went on to underline the need of research topics that are “socially relevant, locally need-based, and nationally essential” in terms of delivering value to society. Several amendments to the role and obligations of research supervisors and co-supervisors have been proposed, the most significant of which is that they will be able to supervise two overseas students on a supernumerary basis. Furthermore, under the modified regulations, higher education institutions will be responsible for assessing the quality of PhD degrees, and they will be permitted to develop guidelines in this regard.