Karnataka government opposes UGC order on biannual admissions in Higher Education Institutions

HEIs have been ordered to enrol students twice a year in July-August and January-February with the aim of increasing the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) of higher education in India to 50% by 2035.

After the National Education Policy (NEP), the Karnataka government has now opposed the University Grants Commission (UGC) order to implement biannual admissions in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

With the aim of increasing the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) of higher education in India to 50% by 2035, HEIs have been ordered to enrol students twice a year in July-August and January-February.

However, the government of Karnataka has opposed the UGC order. “UGC is imposing foreign education models in India without thinking about the Pros and Cons of the country’s educational system,” said Karnataka’s Higher Education Minister M.C. Sudhakar.

Recently, the UGC approved the policy of allowing HEIs to admit students twice a year, saying, “As India aims to become a knowledge economy and society, an increasing number of youths will likely aspire for higher education. The National Education Policy (NEP 2020) aims to achieve a 50% GER by 2035. Willing HEIs must carefully prepare a plan to admit students twice a year, with the approval of the institutional statutory bodies, based on the availability of infrastructure, teaching resources, and support systems. For admissions twice a year, Common University Entrance Test-Under Graduate (CUET-UG) and CUET-PG scores can be used for July-August and January-February admission cycles since these scores are valid for one full year. HEIs that use CUET scores, or other entrance test scores or board marks, in the first admission cycle can use a similar process in the second admission cycle.

UGC expects the policy to facilitate increased GER, enhanced access to higher education, flexibility for students and HEIs, better infrastructure utilisation, the attraction of international students, and collaboration with foreign universities.

Dr. Sudhakar told The Hindu, “UGC is trying to impose the American system of education. Universities in United States of America (USA), where biannual admission is in force, are private universities funded by students, and are not State-funded universities. They have good infrastructure and good number faculty members, and research facilities. However, in Karnataka, most of the HEIs, including private institutions, are facing shortage of teaching faculty members, shortage of admission, and lack of infrastructure. The UGC is issuing such orders without any practical knowledge.”

Despite education being in the concurrent list, the UGC is passing such orders arbitrarily without consulting any State Government or stakeholders. “According to the UGC order, CUET is among the mandatory tests for the biannual admission. However, not many HEIs in Karnataka have opted for the CUET. Therefore, such an impractical system will not be implemented in Karnataka,” he said.