UGC Unveils Draft Guidelines to Reshape Higher Education in India
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The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released draft regulations aimed at redefining undergraduate and postgraduate education in India, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The proposed changes focus on flexibility, inclusivity, and multidisciplinary learning to meet global standards.
The draft introduces biannual admissions, allowing higher education institutions to admit students twice a year, in the periods of July–August and January–February. Students will have the flexibility to pursue two undergraduate or postgraduate programmes simultaneously and can enter or exit courses at multiple points.
Under the new guidelines, students from any field of study can apply to undergraduate or postgraduate programmes if they qualify through national or university-level entrance exams. UGC Chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar stated, ‘We have decoupled eligibility for admissions from rigid discipline-specific requirements. Students can choose any programme irrespective of their past disciplinary qualification by clearing relevant exams’.
The regulations also propose a credit structure where students earn 50% of credits in their major discipline, with the rest allocated to skill-based courses, apprenticeships, or multidisciplinary subjects. Undergraduate programmes will span three or four years, while postgraduate programmes will last one or two years, with options for accelerated or extended degree programmes.
Students can opt for an accelerated degree by taking additional courses to complete their programme faster, or reduce their academic load with an extended option while meeting the same curriculum and credit requirements.
The draft also recognises prior learning, offering pathways for non-traditional learners. Higher education institutions will gain autonomy to determine attendance policies across online, hybrid, or in-person learning modes.
Kumar highlighted, ‘These reforms ensure Indian higher education evolves to meet global standards while staying rooted in inclusivity and adaptability’.
The UGC invites feedback on the proposed guidelines before final implementation.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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