JNU gets 6,000 applications for undergraduate courses

Since the varsity allows direct-fresh admissions in the second year for students who have studied a particular language previously,635 candidates have applied for admission to the 76 seats in second year of BA (H) as well.

Vice-chancellor,SK Sopory had written to the University Grants Commission (UGC) earlier this year with a proposal to start new undergraduate courses at JNU,and is awaiting a response.

The proposal was sent after UGC began a scheme to “identify institutions and support them to develop specialised courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels…”

University spokesperson,Poonam Kudaisya said the courses will have to be fully funded by the UGC,which should include the cost of infrastructural expansion involved in starting new courses. If cleared,JNU would be able to start courses in both social sciences and natural sciences under a new School of Undergraduate Studies.

Speaking to Newsline,Sopory said,“We have received approximately Rs 200 crore in the 12th plan budget. We may be able to add an academic block and a hostel to the infrastructure,but there may not be enough funds for academic expansion.”