New Directive: UGC asks central universities & their colleges to use CUET for admission in UG courses

April 7: The University Grants Commission (UGC) in March 2022 stated all central universities funded by it, including the Delhi University, will have to use the new Common University Entrance Test (CUET) scores to admit students to undergraduate programmes. Following this, Assam University, Silchar announced that the admission to Under Graduate (UG) and Integrated (IG) courses to be offered by Assam University for the session 2022-2023 will be through admission test to be conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) as per directives of UGC.

At the same time, it was also informed that the admission to TDC courses in the affiliated colleges of Assam University will continue as usual. Students seeking admission to TDC courses in affiliated colleges will not have to appear in CUET. However, the UGC in a fresh letter addressed to Vice Chancellors of 45 central universities on 6 April, 2022 stated that all the central universities and their colleges should use only the scores of CUET while admitting the students in UG programmes.

The recent letter by UGC stated, “In continuation to our earlier letters regarding participation in the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) in all UGC funded Central Universities for admission of the students in UG programmes, it is clarified that all the central universities and their colleges should use only the scores of CUET while admitting the students in UG programmes. However, in some activity-based courses such as Fine Arts/ Performing Arts/ Sports/ Physical Education etc., additional criteria may be used.”

However, it needs mention here that the colleges under Delhi University are all constituent colleges, whereas, the colleges under Assam University are only of affiliated status. These affiliated colleges under Assam University are under the jurisdiction of Directorate of Higher Education (DHE), Government of Assam and follows the rules and regulations as issued by the DHE from time to time. Only the academic matters, like syllabus and examinations are regulated by Assam University. Even the admission criteria for colleges affiliated to Assam University are regulated by the DHE Assam.

Moreover, the course run by the affiliated colleges is termed as ‘TDC course’, whereas, the courses run within the University campus are termed as ‘Under Graduate (UG)’ and ‘Integrated (IG) courses’. Hence, sources within the Assam University and those of Assam College Teachers’ Association (ACTA) expressed the view that the affiliated colleges can’t be included within the purview of CUET unless otherwise specified by DHE, Govt of Assam.

Further, sources within the administrative circle revealed that as the affiliated colleges are under the direct control of DHE, Assam, in that case, the NTA/ UGC may directly ask the state government to take a call on this issue. In all probability, Assam University may issue a similar notification.

Also Read: Admission to UG/IG courses of Assam University to be through CUET conducted by NTA