No consensus on common test for admission to central varsities

With University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University still dithering from it, the next round of deliberation has been fixed for November, said HRD Ministry officials.

At the end of a vice chancellors meet here, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said five universities have agreed to the idea.

Ministry officials through maintained the test was not mandatory for all the 41 universities leaving the option open on its adoption.

The meeting, however, resolved to an 'external peer review' of the varsities for assessing their progress in terms of their commitments to their objectives and linkages with industry and research.

The five member review board would comprise scholars of national and international eminence.

It was also agreed to provide the universities the autonomy to start new programmes and departments without having to seek the approval of the HRD Ministry or UGC. At present, new schools of study can be opened only after amendment of statutes, making the exercise a long-drawn process.

The meeting also agreed on the issue of credit transfer among universities, officials said. (MORE)