Page 2 - College Admission

Unreserved seats open to meritorious SC/ST/OBC candidates: SC to High Court

Supreme Court overrules Madhya Pradesh High Court on MBBS admissions for meritorious reserved category candidates

UGC allows universities to conduct entrance exams to fill vacant seats

The UGC has allowed central universities to hold their own entrance exams for UG and PG programmes if seats remain vacant after standard admissions

NTA announces CUET-UG results, paves way for undergraduate admissions

The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Sunday announced the results for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET)-UG, paving the way to begin the undergraduate admission process which has been delayed this year. The NTA had on July 7 released the provisional answer keys of the CUET-UG 2024. A retest for more than 1,000 candidates whose grievances were found genuine by the agency was conducted on July 19. The delay in the CUET-UG results came amid a row over alleged irregularities in competitive exams, including in the NEET-UG and the UGC-NET. Initially, the CUET-UG results were scheduled to be declared on June 30, but the NTA delayed it, as it was grappling with allegations of paper leak allegations in the NEET-UG, UGC-NET and the CSIR-UGC-NET exams. The CUET-UG conducted in a hybrid mode for the first time across the country was cancelled in Delhi a night before the scheduled exam day over "logistical reasons". The exam was held in the national capital later. The NTA had earlier .

JNU, DU plan weekend classes, shorter breaks as UG admissions get delayed

Universities in the national capital, including JNU and DU, plan to hold weekend classes and have a shorter winter break in view of delayed admissions due to the uncertainty around the declaration of CUET UG results. The National Testing Agency (NTA), the body that conducts the entrance exam, announced on Sunday a re-test for over 1,000 CUET UG candidates on July 19, following complaints from candidates, including issues of time loss due to the distribution of the wrong question paper. The agency, however, has not clarified on the declaration of result, which was originally scheduled to be released on June 30, and has now been delayed by over two weeks. The final answer key of the undergraduate admission test has not been notified yet. A senior JNU official said the delay in the declaration of results will impact the university's plan to release an unified academic calendar for all the batches of students. The university will have to rely on extra classes on Saturdays and may have

NTA to take CUET-UG retest for over 1,000 on July 19, no clarity on results

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has decided to conduct a retest for over 1000 candidates of CUET UG on July 19. The NTA had on July 7 released the provisional answer key of Common University Entrance Test (CUET)-UG 2024 and announced that it will conduct a retest for CUET UG candidates between July 15 and 19 if any grievance raised by students about the conduct of the exam is found to be correct. While the agency notified the retest schedule on Sunday, it remained silent on the declaration of the result which has already been delayed by over two weeks with the final answer key not yet notified. The delay in CUET-UG results comes amid a raging row over alleged irregularities in competitive exams, including NEET and NET. According to NTA sources, the distribution of question papers in language not opted by the candidates is one of the reasons for the retest and the 1000-odd candidates are spread across six states. "Some of the grievances include time loss due to distribution of wr

Females outnumber males in applications for admission to WB UG courses

Female candidates outnumber males in the number of applicants to West Bengal's central undergraduate courses admission portal, a higher education department official said on Monday. The portal which was opened on June 24 for admission to seats in 461 colleges and 16 universities closed on July 6 midnight. The portal was launched for the first time this year by the higher education department. "Of 5,27,673 applicants which were validated after scrutiny, 2,99,800 were women," the higher education department official told PTI on Monday. The official said there were 50 applicants from 'others' category. The 'others' in the parlance belong to the LGBTQ+ community, he said. Altogether 34,64,918 applications were filed with 98,089 coming from outside Bengal. Welcoming the trend as an encouraging sign, the Principal of Lady Brabourne College Siuli Sarkar told PTI, "It has been a trend in recent times that more girls are opting for higher education." However, another factor is the minds

Universities will be allowed to offer admissions twice a year: UGC

Indian universities and higher education institutions will now be allowed to offer admissions twice a year on lines of foreign universities with the University Grants Commission giving a go ahead to the plan, UGC chief Jagadesh Kumar said. The two admission cycles will be July-August and January-February from the 2024-25 academic session. "If Indian universities can offer admission twice a year, it will benefit many students such as those who missed admission to a university in the July-August session due to a delay in the announcement of board results, health issues, or personal reasons," Kumar told PTI. "Biannual university admissions will help students maintain motivation since they do not have to wait one full year to be admitted if they miss admission in the current cycle. With biannual admissions in place, industries can also do their campus recruitment twice a year, improving employment opportunities for the graduates," he added. The UGC chief explained that biannual admissi

Not a single reserved post will be de-reserved in colleges, says Pradhan

Amid a controversy over UGC's draft guidelines on filling of reserved posts in higher education institutes, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday clarified that not a single post will be de-reserved. Pradhan said there is no scope of ambiguity in reservations after introduction of the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers' Cadre) Act, 2019. Not a single reserved post will be de-reserved. There is no scope for ambiguity after the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers' Cadre) Act, 2019, Pradhan told PTI. The draft guidelines by the University Grants Commission (UGC) have proposed that any vacancy reserved for SC, ST and OBC candidates can be "declared unreserved" if enough candidates from these categories are not available. The draft guidelines have been receiving backlash from several quarters. The Congress alleged there is a "conspiracy" to end reservation given to SCs, STs and OBCs in posts in higher educational institutions

CUET-UG to be conducted from May 15 to 31; CUET-PG from Mar 11 to 28

The University Grants Commission on Tuesday announced schedule for three key entrance exams -- CUET-UG, CUET-PG, and NET for 2024-25 academic session. Common University Entrance Test (CUET)-UG for admission to undergraduate courses will be conducted from May 15 to 31, 2024. "Results will be announced within three weeks of last test," UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar said. The CUET-PG will be conducted from March 11 to 28. The National Eligibility Test (NET) will be conducted from June 10 to 21, he announced.

DU admissions 2023: Over 200K registrations for UG courses till date

According to the official data, 2,18,355 candidates have registered on the CSAS portal, with 1,54,645 of them submitting the CSAS DU application form 2023 while 63,710 did not

'Affirmative action' ends: US SC bans use of race in university admissions

Affirmative action, also known as positive discrimination, aims to reverse long-standing prejudices against underrepresented groups

US Supreme Court rejects affirmative action in university admissions

Decision deems Harvard and UNC policies unconstitutional

Many WB universities decide to introduce exit option after 3 yrs in UG

After the introduction of four-year honours system in the UG level, several varsities in West Bengal have decided to introduce the option for exiting after three years in major disciplines for those students who want to graduate without an honours as per the New Education Policy 2020 guidelines. As per the guidelines of NEP 2020, the UGC in its recommendations referred to an option where a student can either exit three years after pursuing the Bachelor of Honours course in major subjects as a graduate or complete the four year course to qualify as an honours graduate. Those who study further can get an honours degree or an 'honours with research'. State-run Calcutta University Pro-Vice Chancellor Ashis Chatterjee told PTI Wednesday "We have made an exit option for those students who want to opt out after three years in certain BA, BSc courses and for those who want to complete it in four years." To a question, he said "we have passed on the communication to all the affiliate college

Changes in visa rules won't impact undergrad students, says UK minister

His comment comes days after UK Home Secretary, Suella Braverman recently announced changes to the existing visa rules, which included disallowing students from bringing dependants into the country

CUET-UG 2023: 77% attendance on first day, NTA says glitch-free exam

The second edition of the Common University Entrance Test began on Sunday on a glitch free note, registering 77 per cent attendance even as the exam was delayed at a few centres. The examination, however, was not marred with technical glitches like the debut edition. Meanwhile, for those who were allotted May 28 as exam dates and also have Joint Integrated Programme in Management Admission (JIPMAT) the same time, have been asked to continue with their management test as the National Testing Agency (NTA) has decided to reschedule their CUET-UG dates. "The exam went smoothly without any technical glitches. At certain centres, the exam was delayed due to issues in the biometric identification process. However, they were sorted and all candidates successfully completed their exams and were given their allotted time," a senior NTA official said. Compared to last year, when on the first day, around 75 per cent attendance was recorded, and overall attendance was 64 per cent, this year, 77

'CUET-UG exam days to be extended by 4 days to accommodate more candidates'

The CUET-UG examination days will be extended by at least four days to accommodate the higher number of candidates in certain cities, according to the National Testing Agency (NTA). The second edition of Common University Entrance Test (CUET)-UG is scheduled from May 21-31. "In some cities, the count of registered candidates is very large. To accommodate these candidates, the CUET examination days will be extended to June 1-2 as well as June 5-6. Moreover, buffer days of June 7 and 8 are also being kept as reserve days. In the coming days, NTA will issue the City Intimation Slip for these additional days," said Sadhana Parashar, Senior Director (Exams), NTA. The NTA has also clarified that the City Intimation Slip is not the same as admit card. "These slips are for advance intimation for allotment of city where the examination centre will be located, to facilitate the candidates. The admit cards will be issued later," she added. Nearly 14 lakh applications have been received for t

Application window for CUET-UG to reopen for 3 days, no change in syllabus

The application window for CUET-UG will reopen for three days from Sunday following representation from students and there will be no change in the syllabus after rationalisation of NCERT textbooks, officials said. "Following requests from several students, we have decided to re-open the application portal for CUET-UG on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday and it will close at 11.59 pm on Tuesday (11 April 2023). Students are requested to visit cuet.samarth.ac.in for more details," UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar said. Nearly 14 lakh students have applied for CUET-UG up by 41 per cent since last year. Following rationalisation of NCERT books, aspirants of undergraduate entrance exams were confused about whether it will impact the entrances. "The notified syllabus will remain the same as the exam is not just for students from a particular board. Not all boards have rationalised the content," a senior National Testing Agency (NTA) official said. CUET-UG remains the second-largest entrance exam

Nearly 1.6 mn students register for CUET-UG, highest for DU: UGC chairman

UGC chairman also stated that there has been an increase in the number of universities participating after a 41 per cent increase in the total number of students was reported

DU offers 2 seats each in UG, PG courses to orphans from next academic year

The Delhi University will offer two seats each under supernumerary quota to orphans in all undergraduate and postgraduate programmes from the next academic year, officials have said. Such students will also be exempted from payment of any kind of fees, they said. The proposal in this regard was passed during the varsity's Executive council meeting on Friday. "The Executive Council today passed the proposal regarding offering admission to orphans in every undergraduate and postgraduate programme offered at the university from the next academic year," an official said. "Such students, when admitted, will be exempted from payment of any kind of fees whatsoever which will include exemption from payment of their hostel fees, examination fees and other such mandatory fees as well," the agenda in the matter, accessed by PTI, read. The expenses for admission and continuance of study of such students shall be met from the University Welfare Fund or College Students' Welfare Fund, as the ca

Elite US colleges try to navigate a world where the SATs are optional

As deadlines loom for the Class of 2027 - Jan. 1 is the big day at many top institutions - American higher ed is in the middle of a grand experiment in "test-optional" admissions