UG students in Maharashtra to get bilingual option to write exams: Patil

He also said that the state government will soon come out with a Government Resolution (GR), which will mandate private universities to reserve 10 per cent of their seats for students from economically weaker sections of society and charge from them only 50 per cent of tuition fees.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was the chief guest, urged colleges and universities to stress on skill development of students. Referring to fast-changing   technology, Fadnavis said     adequate skilled manpower will be required in future and colleges should change from “degree distribution centres” to upskill students.

At present, undergraduate colleges in Maharashtra allow students to select the language in which they wish to take exams — either fully in Marathi or in English. The bilingual option is being provided for the first time, Patil said. “Thus if there are 10 questions, a student can choose to answer seven in English and the rest in Marathi. Such papers will be duly corrected and marked… In Maharashtra, we have developed the curriculum in Marathi for Arts, Science and Commerce,” he said.

Patil also said the state government has taken concrete steps to implement the NEP. “All colleges in Maharashtra, be it government, autonomous or private, will soon implement the NEP,” he said.

According to Patil, universities in the state have been given enough freedom to function but the government will step in if they try to regulate colleges under them or create roadblocks in the functioning of autonomous colleges. “We held a meeting with Vice Chancellors of all universities and told them that in case they bring about changes in the way colleges function, we can amend the Universities Act and address this concern,” he said.

Patil said that while the state government was against regulating private universities, the GR about reserving 10 per cent of seats for economically backward students will be published soon.