From Now, Indian Universities, Colleges To Have Two Admission Sessions A Year

Indian universities and higher education institutions will now have the flexibility to offer admissions twice a year, similar to foreign universities. This decision has been approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC), according to its chief Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar.

Starting from the 2024-25 academic session, the two admission cycles will be conducted in July-August and January-February.

Mr. Kumar explained that allowing Indian universities to offer admissions twice a year would benefit many students, especially those who miss the July-August session due to delays in board results, health issues, or personal reasons. He noted that biannual admissions would help maintain student motivation, as they would not have to wait an entire year if they miss the current cycle. Additionally, industries could conduct campus recruitment twice a year, thereby improving employment opportunities for graduates.

The UGC chief highlighted that biannual admissions would enable higher education institutions (HEIs) to plan their resource distribution, such as faculty, labs, classrooms, and support services, more efficiently. This would result in better functional flow within the universities.

Mr. Kumar pointed out that universities worldwide already follow a biannual admission system. By adopting this cycle, Indian HEIs could enhance their international collaborations and student exchanges, thereby improving global competitiveness and aligning with global educational standards.

He also mentioned that for HEIs to effectively adopt biannual admissions, they would need to work on administrative intricacies, plan for increased use of available resources, and provide seamless support systems for students admitted at different times of the year. This preparation is essential for maximizing the benefits of biannual admissions.

However, Mr. Kumar clarified that offering biannual admissions would not be mandatory for universities. Only those HEIs with the required infrastructure and teaching faculty could utilize this opportunity. He emphasized that the UGC provides this flexibility to HEIs that wish to increase their student intake and offer new programs in emerging areas. To admit students twice a year, HEIs would need to make suitable amendments to their institutional regulations.