In what could trigger a major controversy, the HRD Ministry proposes to hold a common entrance examination for admissions to all the 42 Central Universities from the next academic session. This move forms part of the Ministry’s ambitious agenda to overhaul the higher education system.
The all-India entrance test for undergraduate and post-graduate courses will be held along the lines of the one conducted for IITs and IIMs with the purpose of making a common pool of students and employees from across India. The academic and non-academic staff will also be transferable to any of the universities.
A top HRD Ministry official said that by appearing in a single entrance test, a student will get the opportunity for admission to any of the 42 Central Universities.
For the last two academic sessions, 10 Central Universities (namely Bihar, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jammu and others) have been conducting a common test on the basis of “Central Universities Common Entrance Test” (CUCET). Under the new proposal, the students will also have the choice to apply for multiple universities and courses to secure admission.
This will address the problem of thousands of students thronging the prestigious universities like JNU, DU, BHU or likewise. After the new system, students residing in Delhi, who generally prefer to stay and study in Delhi, may have to go to Central University, Itanagar and vice versa.
Of the total 42 Central Universities, 11 are located in the North Eastern States. With most students aspiring for big universities, lesser known institutions like Central Universities Gaya, Ranchi and many others have been losing their sheen.
Citing an example, a top HRD official said that though BHU and Allahabad are in neighbourhood, the latter has lost its sheen. Similarly, there no takers for Koraput Central University or North Eastern Hill University in Shillong,” explained a top HRD Ministry official.
The HRD Ministry has constituted a committee to look into the nitty-gritty of such a common entrance test for academic course, and the report is likely to be submitted early next month. Ministry sources said that the proposal came in for a discussion during the Vice Chancellors meet early this month. Sources said some of the universities opposed the move citing “unique character” of the universities like JNU or Delhi University and the BHU.
“Just like the common entrance test for institutes like IITs and IIMs can’t we have an all-India entrance test for Central Universities, which are all funded by the Centre,” an official said. The academic and non-academic staff would also be transferable to any of the universities, and they would lose the luxury of remaining confined to one campus till retirement, added the official.