UGC Panel Proposes Return Of 4-Year Undergrad Courses

New Delhi: A UGC committee has proposed the return of the 4-year undergraduate courses. In its report on “Promoting and Improving the Quality of Research in Indian Universities/ Colleges”, the committee has proposed re-introduction of the 4-year undergraduate courses, NDTV reported.

The 4-year undergraduate program was introduced by Delhi University under the regime of previous Vice-Chancellor Dinesh Singh five years before. Later, however, it was scrapped by former Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani.

The four-member UGC Committee led by Professor P Balaram, former Director of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, has submitted two reports.

The other report submitted by the committee proposes reforms on “Minimum Standards and Procedures for Awarding M.Phil/ PhD Degrees”.

UGC has invited feedback/ suggestions on the committee’s report till August 16.

The National Education Policy (NEP) panel led by former ISRO Chief K Kasturirangan has also recommended re-introduction of the four-year course as part of the undergraduate reforms.

“Both three-year and four-year courses will be allowed to co-exist, but with multiple exit and entry options. The four-year programme will provide for greater rigour and allow students to conduct research optionally,” the NEP draft said.