In December 2020, the UGC had actually set up a committee headed by Vice-Chancellor of Central University of Punjab, R P Tiwari, to chalk out a plan to implement CUET from 2021-22. In its report, the committee had actually advised that a minimum of 50 percent of a candidates CUET rating ought to be factored in throughout admissions in undergraduate courses.

The UGCs circular to vice-chancellors now describes the proposed entrance test as CUET, not CUCET.

Central universities, including Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and DU, stated they would adopt the CUET based on the instructions of the government.

The Central Universities Common Entrance Test (CUCET) was introduced in 2010, when 7 recently developed Central universities subscribed to it. In 2021, only 12 Central universities, consisting of Assam University in Silchar, Central University of Gujarat, Central University of Punjab, Central University of Tamil Nadu and Central University of Jharkhand, among others, subscribed to the CUCET.

In July, not long after the 2nd wave of Covid-19 infections, the UGC had revealed that it was putting off its plan to carry out CUET for a year.

ExplainedAnswer to soaring cut-offs?
THE PUSH for a typical entrance test comes at a time when impractical cutoffs for admission to premier organizations like Delhi University have underlined the need for options. While the UGC hopes it will produce an equal opportunity, critics fear it will encourage the coaching industry further.

The most recent push came on November 26, when UGC joint secretary Jitendra K Tripathi wrote to the vice-chancellors of all 45 Central universities conveying that after comprehensive deliberations, it “was dealt with that the typical entryway for UG and PG may be carried out from the academic session 2022-23”. For admissions to PhD, NET rating will be utilized “any place possible”, specifies the letter.

KP Singh, registrar of the Central University of Bathinda, one of the 12 Central universities that have been carrying out a typical entryway test, stated, “Earlier we were conducting it on OMR sheets however this year it was computerised. It is prematurely to discuss next years exam pattern.”

State universities, deemed-to-be universities and personal universities may likewise adopt the typical entryway test for admissions, the UGC added. “These tests would be performed in minimum 13 languages in which the NTA is already carrying out JEE and NEET examinations,” the commission informed the universities.

The UGC has, nevertheless, not revealed the techniques of the proposed test, which, sources stated, is likely to evaluate trainees based on two sections– an aptitude test and a subject-specific paper.

” Let the UGC work out the techniques of how this will be carried out and we will follow it. But there is no point going for a 50-50 formula due to the fact that the controversy around Board marks will still continue even if its weightage is reduced. There will still be some Boards scoring much better than others which will develop discrepancy … DU is a really varied university so we will have to keep that in mind when we talk of our admission policy,” stated DU registrar Vikas Gupta.

After a meeting held on November 22, the UGC on November 26 asked vice-chancellors of Central universities to take “suitable procedures” to perform the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) that is to be arranged by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

According to the UGC, the CUET will cover students searching for admissions in the sciences, humanities, languages, arts, along with trade subjects in higher education institutions.

According to NEP 2020, the NTA will work to provide a high-quality typical aptitude test, in addition to specialised typical subject examinations in the sciences, liberal arts, languages, arts, and employment subjects, a minimum of twice every year.

” Let us see and wait what are the techniques of the entryway test and we will adopt appropriately. As far we can tell, it will not be extremely various from the JNU Entrance Examination (JNUEE) being conducted by the NTA,” stated a JNU official.

THE UNIVERSITY Grants Commission (UGC) has actually made a renewed push to roll out a common entryway test for admissions to undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Central universities across India from the academic session 2022-23.

Ayesha Kidwai, teacher at JNUs Centre for Linguistics, said that passing the situation of universities that have actually carried out CUCET makes it clear that this method is set for failure. “They can not treat universities like these are some organs of the state. To execute any such proposition, the UGC requires to prepare policies which require the approval of the scholastic councils of the universities, which have their own acts,” Kidwai stated.

The proposed common entryway examination has its share of critics. Disha Nawani, professor, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Mumbai), stated it will be a continuation of the existing system where the focus is not on learning but evaluation. “Any sort of plan which looks for to impose uniformity ends up being inequitable. The suggested system will not be more simply and fair,” she said.

Satya Prakash Upadhyaya, Registrar, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, another of the 12 universities that have actually been conducting admissions through a typical entrance test, stated, “The typical entryway test is not brand-new for the central universities that have actually belonged of the CU-CET over the last couple of years. We have been performing it since 2017.”

Abha Dev Habib, Associate Professor (Physics) at DUs Miranda House college, said increasing the number of filters will not assist get rid of the obstacles positioned by the vast distinctions in marks gotten by students from various state boards and those from the CBSE. “Having a filter of common entryway will encourage the coaching industry and put additional concern on students and moms and dads coming from disadvantaged backgrounds,” stated Habib, a previous secretary of the Democratic Teachers Front in DU.

” For admissions in universities, the existing policies relating to quotas, appointments, subject mixes, choices and so on will continue,” the committee had actually stated.

— With inputs from Aranya Shankar, New Delhi; Divya Goyal, Ludhiana; Ritu Sharma, Ahmedabad

The Central Universities Common Entrance Test (CUCET) was launched in 2010, when seven recently established Central universities subscribed to it. In 2012, the federal government attempted to extend this to all Central universities under the Education Ministry, however the proposal didnt take off with some recognized universities expressing concerns over the effect it would have on the quality of students confessed. Over the years, more newly set-up Central universities embraced the typical entryway, however the older ones stayed away. In 2021, just 12 Central universities, consisting of Assam University in Silchar, Central University of Gujarat, Central University of Punjab, Central University of Tamil Nadu and Central University of Jharkhand, among others, subscribed to the CUCET.

To implement any such proposition, the UGC needs to prepare policies which require the approval of the academic councils of the universities, which have their own acts,” Kidwai said.