Du unlikely to implement ugc proposal on biannual admissions cites lack of infra and seats

Du unlikely to implement ugc proposal on biannual admissions cites lack of infra and seats

Delhi University (DU) is unlikely to implement the University Grants Commission (UGC) move allowing universities to admit students twice a year, an official told The Indian Express citing the lack of infrastructure and availability of seats.

“A single admission cycle is already an exhaustive process… We do not have the infrastructure or available seats to manage another round of admissions in the same academic year,” said the DU official on the condition of anonymity.

Last week, UGC unveiled major changes to its draft guidelines, including implementing biannual admissions, to increase flexibility and to align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The commission had maintained that while biannual admissions are not mandatory, the decision could provide “flexibility” to institutions that might want to “increase their student intake and offer new programmes in emerging areas”.

The key provisions of the draft guidelines include biannual admissions in July/August and January/February, provisions for multiple entry and exit, continuous formative assessment, recognition of prior learning, and permission to pursue two UG/PG programmes. Students are eligible for admission in any discipline of the UG programme or PG programme if they qualify for the national-level or university-level entrance examinations, irrespective of the disciplines taken by them in Class 12 or UG.

However, the official noted that students often tend to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate courses closely aligned with their prior academic background. “It is rare for students without prior exposure to a subject—like a student who hasn’t studied English before — to suddenly opt for an English Honours programme,” the official said.

Despite its resistance to biannual admissions, DU has embraced other reforms proposed by the NEP 2020, including the multiple entry and exit system. This system allows students to pause and rejoin their studies.

This year, DU offered nearly 71,000 seats across 79 programmes and 183 combinations through the Common University Entrance Test.

Highlighting the broader goals of the reforms last week, UGC Chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar stated that the commission aims to make Indian higher education more inclusive, flexible, and globally competitive. “Students now have the option to earn 50% of their credits in their major discipline, while the remaining credits can be allocated to skill development, apprenticeships, or multidisciplinary courses,” he said.