UGC Allows Indian Universities, Colleges to Conduct Biannual Admissions From 2024-25; Details

Universities in India have been granted approval by UGC to admit students in two admission cycles namely January/February and July/August from the academic session 2024-25. 

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has granted approval to higher education institutions to conduct biannual admission from academic session 2024-25. M. Jagadesh Kumar, Chairman of UGC has disclosed that universities can now admit students twice a year with an aim to enhance opportunities for students and match the global standards of education. 

"If Indian universities can offer admission twice a year, it will benefit many students such as those who missed admission to a university in the July-August session due to a delay in the announcement of board results, health issues, or personal reasons," Says UGC Chairman.

Indian Universities to Conduct Admissions Twice a Year 

Commencing from the academic year 2024-25, Universities in India will conduct admission in two cycles namely the July/August session and the January/February session. 

Reason for Biannual Admission in Indian Universities

Some major reasons for conducting admission twice a year include the following: 

• To enhance opportunities and match global standards of education.
• To offer another opportunity to students who missed the registration deadlines. 
• To provide another chance to students who miss the initial admission cycle due to various reasons like board results, health concerns or any other personal circumstances. 
• To avoid wasting an entire year in order to get admission to Indian universities. 

At present, universities and colleges admit students once a year in July-August in regular mode. Therefore, all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) follow the admission cycle beginning in July-August and ending in May-June. 

Meanwhile, UGC allowed biannual admission in open and distance learning (ODL) institutes that ultimately benefitted nearly half a million students to get admission in their desired programmes without waiting for the whole year for admission, As reported by Hindustan Times. 

“After the UGC permitted two cycle admissions in a year for Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and Online modes, as per the information furnished by the HEIs on the UGC portal, in addition to a total of 19,73,056 students were enrolled in July 2022 and an additional 4,28,854 students joined in January 2023 in ODL and online programs,” UGC Chairman further added. 

Reportedly, the UGC Chairman emphasised that HEIs with adequate infrastructure and teaching facilities shall utilise the opportunity to offer biannual admission. However, the biannual admission is discretionary. 

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