Education
UGC Allows Indian Universities to Offer Admissions Twice a Year
In a significant policy shift, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has approved biannual admissions for Indian universities and higher education institutions, starting from the next academic year. Admissions will now be available in January/February and July/August, providing more opportunities for students who miss the initial cycle due to various reasons.
UGC Chairman Professor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar explained that this move will reduce wait times for enrollment, increase student motivation, and enhance employment opportunities by allowing industries to conduct campus recruitment twice a year.
Previously, biannual admissions were permitted for Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and Online modes, which saw nearly half a million additional students enrolling. Encouraged by this success, the UGC extended the policy to regular mode programmes. However, adopting biannual admissions is not mandatory, and institutions must amend their regulations to accommodate this system.
As per the information furnished by the HEls on the UGC DEB 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.
This change aligns Indian universities with global practices, potentially improving international collaborations and student exchanges. It is expected to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio and contribute to making India a ‘Global Study Destination’ as envisioned in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.