V-C meet clears streamlined admission,common test

Scores attained on a national level aptitude test besides Class XII marks could soon decide on admissions to undergraduate courses across the 40 odd Central universities in the country. A similar common test with a subject component along with marks attained in graduation could also be the basis for admission to postgraduate courses. That apart,Navratna status to varsities that meet certain criteria,faculty and student mobility besides credit transfer across central varsities and a four year integrated BA BEd/BSc programme were approved of as part of academic and administrative reforms for Central universities on Wednesday.

Vice-Chancellors of all Central universities on Wednesday met in New Delhi and approved in principle a proposal that is envisaged as a streamlined admission system to the universities and colleges affiliated to them. While the modalities of the proposed aptitude test/common entrance exam and the normalisation of Class XII board exam results have yet to be worked out,Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said that a committee would submit a report on the same in two months and attempts would be made to implement this system by the next academic session after due consultations. Sibal added that concerns of varsities with special categories like Jawaharlal Nehru University,Delhi University,Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Milia Islamia University would be factored in before the proposal is implemented.

Incidentally,the 14 new Central universities that have come up since last year are mandated to admit students on the basis of an all-India level entrance examination. While seven of the new varsities admitted students through a common entrance exam this year,the idea is to extend the format across all Central varsities for uniformity and space for critical thinking skills and aptitude in determining admissions. The HRD Ministry is also working on a plan for single national level entrance examination/aptitude test after Class XII to determine admissions to engineering colleges including IITs.

The V-Cs conference also decided that the status of a Navratna University can be conferred on varsities that meet some stringent standards. These varsities will be given more financial and academic autonomy. That apart,extending credit transfer and faculty and student mobility to all Central varsities based on bilateral MoUs between them,developing a code of conduct for V-Cs,varsity faculty,staff and students covering diverse issue like plagiarism,awarding of doctorates and so on. The proposals,approved on Wednesday by the V-Cs will,however,be examined further by committees that will submit reports on these issues,Sibal said.