Draft UGC Regulations 2024 Enable Four-Year UG Students to Access Advanced M.Tech. and M.E. Programs, Says Chairman

New reforms include biannual admissions, multiple entry-exit options, and multidisciplinary learning opportunities.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released the draft UGC (Minimum Standards of Instructions in the Award of UG and PG Degrees) Regulations 2024, introducing transformative reforms aimed at aligning Indian higher education with global standards while fostering inclusivity and adaptability.

Jagadesh Kumar, UGC Chairman, emphasized, “The draft regulations aim to transform higher education in India by introducing greater flexibility, removal of disciplinary rigidity, inclusivity, and multidisciplinary learning opportunities. These reforms will ensure that Indian higher education evolves to meet global standards while staying rooted in inclusivity and adaptability to diverse learner needs.”

Key Features of the Draft Regulations

Biannual Admissions: Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) prepared for it may admit students twice a year, in July/August and January/February.

Multiple Entry and Exit Options: Students can enter or leave programs flexibly, with recognition of prior learning enabling their return to academics.

Flexible Discipline Requirements: Students can pursue UG/PG programs in any discipline, irrespective of their prior educational background, provided they clear the relevant entrance exams.

Customized Credit Allocation: A minimum of 50% of credits will focus on the major discipline, while the rest can be used for skill development, apprenticeships, or multidisciplinary subjects, fostering holistic growth.

Attendance Autonomy: HEIs will determine attendance requirements for programs, aligning with the diverse learning modes outlined in NEP 2020.

Accelerated and Extended Degree Programs (ADP/EDP): Students can opt for shorter or extended degree durations based on their credit-completion potential, with HEIs evaluating their capabilities after the first or second semester.

Enhanced Degree Structures

The duration of undergraduate programs will be three or four years, while postgraduate programs will range from one to two years. Students pursuing a four-year undergraduate degree will qualify for advanced postgraduate options, such as two-year M.Tech. or M.E. programs.

Promoting Multidisciplinary Learning

The draft regulations aim to decouple eligibility from rigid discipline-specific prerequisites. Students will now have opportunities to engage in programs beyond their past academic streams, provided they demonstrate competency through entrance exams.

“Recognizing the diverse learning modes promoted by NEP 2020, these regulations provide autonomy to HEIs to determine attendance requirements, ensuring they align with evolving academic needs,” Kumar noted.

Streamlining Academic Progress

Under the ADP/EDP, students can complete standard curriculum content in a shortened or extended timeframe, with their degrees carrying a note indicating the adapted duration. HEIs can allocate up to 10% of sanctioned intake for ADP, with no cap for EDP.

Implications for Holistic Development

These changes aim to provide students with flexible, multidisciplinary, and inclusive learning opportunities. The reforms cater to the evolving needs of students and industries, ensuring a robust and dynamic higher education ecosystem in India. The draft regulations reflect the UGC’s commitment to creating a learner-centric education system that balances global competitiveness with national priorities.

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