NEP degree students who exited after 3 years asked to do 4th

NEP degree students who exited after 3 years asked to do 4th 

DEGREE UNCERTAIN 

Sruthysusan.Ullas@timesofindia.com 24.07.2026

Bengaluru : Confusion over the multiple entry-exit provision under National Education Policy (NEP) has left a batch of hotel management students in limbo, with a city college asking them to return and complete the fourth year after they exited the programme at the end of the third. 

The affected students — of Army Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, affiliated to Bangalore North University (BNU) — joined the course in July 2022 under NEP framework. They were informed that they could either complete four years to earn a Bachelor of Hotel Management (BHM) degree or exit after three years with a BBA in Hotel Management. 

Of the 54 students in the batch, 15 exited after three years in Aug 2025, with several securing campus placements. Ten months later, in June 2026, the college contacted them, saying they would not receive a degree after three years because of a confusion in the implementation of the programme. The students were asked to rejoin the course, pay around Rs 2 lakh in fees, and complete the final year. 

Many students said that  they had  already moved on. “Some of us got good placements through campus recruitment, while others pursued higher studies. I’ve joined an MBA programme. I cannot give that up, pay another Rs 2 lakh, and lose a year,” a student said. Another student, who has secured a job paying Rs 70,000 a month, said he could not afford to resign and risk losing a well-paying position. 

According to students, the issue also affects those who exited in 2024. “At least nine students from that batch have also been asked to return. How is it possible to restart the course after such a long gap?” one asked. NEP 2020 was adopted by Karnataka back in 2021, making it the first state to implement the policy. 

Implementation issues 

Institute director Brig VV Subramaniam attributed the issue to implementation of the first NEP batch. “The college management is aware of the issues being faced by students. The institute is engaging with BNU and also the students. The matter will be resolved in their interest. Their careers and interests are what is important. BNU is supportive and the management is positive an acceptable solution will be found,” he said. 

In an email to students, the college said the former principal and chairman of the board of studies had failed to submit proposals for approval of the certificate, diploma, BBA, and BHM programmes. As a result, the institute received approval only for admissions to the BHM programme. BNU vice-chancellor BK Ravi said the issue has been discussed by the academic council and referred to Karnataka State Higher Education Council for a decision.

Meanwhile, an educationist said NEP was implemented in haste, leading to confusion over exit options in professional courses. “Some programmes are designed to be completed in full, and mid-course exit degrees may not be universally recognised. There are ramifications with the state withdrawing from NEP as well. Will our courses be accepted everywhere, say by UPSC? Where is the clarity on all these issues as govts and policies change?” he added.

NMC plans ban on medical seat hike if buildings not yet complete

NMC plans ban on medical seat hike if buildings not yet complete

Anuja.Jaiswal@timesofindia.com   14.07.2026

REGULATORY TIGHTENING

New Delhi : Medical colleges will no longer be allowed to seek regulatory approval — for increasing MBBS seats — while their hospitals or academic buildings are still under construction, under amendments proposed by National Medical Commission (NMC). 

The draft regulations — to tighten norms for new medical colleges and MBBS seats —require institutions to have all prescribed infrastructure and statutory approvals in place before applying. Temporary arrangements for hospital and college buildings will no longer be permitted, and institutions with projects still under construction (“work-inprogress”) will not be considered for further processing. 

NMC has also proposed rejecting incomplete applications without giving institutions an opportunity to rectify deficiencies. Those applications lacking mandatory documents or other records specified by Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) will not be treated as valid proposals and may be rejected at the initial stage. 

Under the proposed amendments, applicants must submit a valid ‘consent of affiliation’ from a recognised university at the time of application. Solvency certificate based on the previous financial year, issued by a chartered accountant within 90 days before the application deadline, will also be mandatory.

In another significant change, new medical colleges, as well as those already functioning, will have to maintain a dedicated corpus fund for the operation of the institution. The amount will be decided by MARB and may be revised periodically, with colleges required to furnish documentary proof whenever asked. 

REGULATORY TIGHTENING

State government to take legal action over deemed university status for three private medical colleges

State government to take legal action over deemed university status for three private medical colleges

Health Minister K.G. Arunraj

at the inauguration of the NalamAI WhatsApp chatbot service.B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM

The Hindu Bureau

CHENNAI. 09.07.2026

With three private medical colleges obtaining ‘deemed to be university’ status, Tamil Nadu will lose 461 medical seats from the State quota, Health Minister K.G. Arunraj said on Wednesday. He added that the State government was exploring legal action, and would file a writ petition soon.

Two days ago, the State government came to know from the website of the National Medical Commission that Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital, and St. Peter’s Medical College had been granted deemed university status, he said.

As a result, the State will lose 461 seats from its pool, Dr. Arunraj said, adding: “These institutions will no longer be required to follow the reservation policy, 7.5% horizontal reservation for government school students, or adhere to the fee structure prescribed by the State government. Instead, they could fill MBBS and BDS seats independently.” Additionally, 35 seats under the 7.5% quota would be lost, he said.

The State government will also take up the issue with the Centre to make a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the State government mandatory for private medical colleges to obtain deemed university status, he said.

“Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Srinivasan Medical College are owned by DMK MLA Kathiravan. As they fall under the Tamil Nadu Private University category, they did not apply for NOC with the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, and applied directly to the University Grants Commission,” he told reporters after inaugurating facilities at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital.

The deemed university status had been granted to St. Peter’s Medical College, Hosur, subject to an appeal filed by the Government of Tamil Nadu, he said. Karpaga Vinayaga Medical College had also applied for the status, he added.

Explaining the process, the Minister said private institutions seeking deemed university status must first obtain an NOC from their affiliated university. The affiliated university is required to issue the NOC within 60 days, failing which it shall be deemed to have been granted as per UGC rules.

In June 2023, the Karpaga Vinayaga institution, which has an engineering college and a medical college, had applied to Anna University and Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University for an NOC. 

However, no action was taken for 60 days. The NOC was issued in September 2023 during the previous regime, and the same was revoked two months later. The institution approached the High Court, and in April 2025, the court ruled that as the NOC was not issued within 60 days, it was deemed to have been issued as per UGC rules. No appeal was filed against the order by the previous government, he said.

The Minister also launched NalamAI, a WhatsApp chatbot service. The service, available on 96192 22999, has been introduced in 22 districts, where the public can generate the outpatient slips without having to wait in queues.

Four pvt colleges exploited legal loopholes: Min ‘Owned By DMK, AIADMK Leaders’

Four pvt colleges exploited legal loopholes: Min ‘Owned By DMK, AIADMK Leaders’ 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK    09.07.2026

Chennai : At least four private colleges that exploited legal loopholes to gain deemed university status, sidestepping the state’s seat-sharing rules and fee caps, are managed or owned by leaders of DMK or AIADMK, health minister K G Arunraj said Wednesday. 

At least 462 govt-quota MBBS seats and 35 seats reserved for govt-school students under the 7.5% quota, along with management-quota and BDS seats, are likely to be stripped from the state’s seat matrix, since allotments to deemed universities are made by the Centre’s medical counselling committee.

 “Two more colleges have applied for deemed status,” Arunraj said. First, two of the colleges by passed the state altogether, going straight to national regulators for approval. Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Institute of Medical Sciences and Srinivasan Medical College, both previously classified as state private universities, were granted deemed status without the state’s knowledge; the govt learnt of it only two days ago, Arunraj said. 

The state will move a writ petition seeking cancellation of the new status. “The college owned by DMK MLA S Kathiravan (Manachanallur) never applied for an NOC, yet it is listed as a deemed university. They used procedural loopholes to bypass the process and approached the UGC directly,” Arunraj said. 

“They violated state rights and social justice. “They are denying meritorious and govt school students their seats,” he added. The DMK govt also ignored mandatory procedures and failed to act on legal options in time. Karpaga Vinayaga sought clearance from Anna University for its engineering programmes and Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University for its medical college, on June 7, 2023. But neither responded within the mandated 60-day window. “So, as per the rules, it was deemed granted. Three months later, the DMK govt issued the NOC. 

For reasons unclear, it was revoked two months later. The college moved the court and got an order in its favour since no reply was given within 60 days. The govt did not appeal the ruling,” Arunraj said. St Peter’s Medical College’s application was decided within the mandated period in Dec 2023; but it was communicated six days late. The college moved Delhi high court and secured a favourable order. The state has appealed against this order, he said. Two other institutions received no response within the deadline, and their NOCs were deemed granted by default. 

The minister called the pattern evidence of political bias in vetting such applications. The state will negotiate with the Centre for legislative amendments while pursuing that legal route. “We want the govt to withdraw the amendments issued in the May 2026 notification and amend the UGC Act to restore state powers,” he said. 

A permanent fix would require moving education to the state list. But as an interim step, the state is pursuing fee caps for deemed-university colleges and seat-sharing arrangements similar to Karnataka’s system, he said. Students facing excessive fees or denied stipends at these institutions can file anonymous complaints with the state’s 104 helpline, the minister added

TN mulls legal action over deemed univ tag for med colleges

TN mulls legal action over deemed univ tag for med colleges 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 08.07.2026

Chennai : Tamil Nadu is considering legal action, including moving the Supreme Court early next week, after some medical colleges in the state were granted ‘deemed university’ status — a change that could wipe out state quota seats and reshape access to medical education across the region.

Officials said that while 650 MBBS seats are likely to be removed from the state’s seat matrix since allotments to deemed universities are handled by the Centre, three more colleges have told the govt that they are expected to be added to the list soon. These institutions will no longer be obligated to reserve seats for students admitted through the state’s counselling process. “This will mean at least 700 govt quota seats, and more than 50 seats meant for govt school students, will be affected,” a senior health department official said. 

On Tuesday, after day-long discussions with legal experts, a senior legal officer questioned how these institutions were granted the permission, since UGC norms for this status require a high NAAC grade across three cycles, or NBA accreditation for two thirds of programmes, or a top  100 overall or top-50 discipline-specific NIRF ranking for three consecutive years. 

While a legal challenge may take months to resolve, student counsellors and academicians have urged the govt to rein in fees at deemed institutions, as directed by the HC. The state has no control over fees charged by deemed universities, since they fall outside state fee committee’s purview. Under the existing structure, the committee fixed annual MBBS tuition for govt quota seats in self-financing colleges and private universities at ₹4.35 lakh to ₹5.40 lakh, and for management-quota seats at ₹15 lakh to ₹16.2 lakh. 

The Centre has not fixed tuition fees for deemed universities, which charge between ₹20 lakh and ₹35 lakh a year. “Earlier, an association of private universities moved the court to prevent this from being implemented. For some reason, that case was withdrawn. So the state or the Centre must now implement the high court order,” said N Narendran, a NEET coach.  If the govt cannot immediately regulate fees, experts want it to adopt Karnataka’s approach.

 “In Karnataka, deemed universities continue sharing seats with the state govt despite their elevated status. At least six of the 12 deemed universities share around 188 seats with the state quota, at fees ranging from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹6 lakh,” said student counsellor Manickavel Arumugam. “That’s one way to ensure meritorious and govt school students passing out this year are not punished,” he said. 

“For many meritorious students from modest backgrounds, this is a critical pathway into medicine, as they can only afford subsidised, govt-regulated seats,” he added. The state medical university, meanwhile, is appealing to UGC and NMC, stating that it never issued a no-objection certificate for the change in affiliation to these institutions.

Pvt colleges, deemed univs launch digi regn drives ahead of NEET counselling

Pvt colleges, deemed univs launch digi regn drives ahead of NEET counselling

Experts warn Of Backdoor Admissions, Fee Deals

Pushpa.Narayan@timesofindia.com 25.06.2026

Chennai : Weeks before NEET counselling for undergraduate medical admissions begins, private medical colleges and deemed universities have quietly launched digital registration portals for MBBS aspirants — a practice academicians and student counsellors say has no legal standing and could pave the way for backdoor admissions and under-the-table fee arrangements. 

The registrations, once conducted discreetly on campuses, have now moved online. Under the existing regulatory framework, admissions to MBBS seats are governed exclusively by state and central counselling committees. After NEET-UG results are declared, the Medical Counselling Committee under the Directorate General of Health Services, New Delhi, allots candidates to central institutions, deemed universities and 15% of state medical college seats, based on merit in NEET, reservation norms and student preference. 

State committees allot candidates to the remaining 85% of govt seats and all seats in self-financing and state private colleges. Colleges are barred from directly admitting students. Yet, the portals ask prospective candidates to submit personal details — name, address, mobile number, NEET admit card number and scores. “Some parents assume early registration will help their children secure seats,” said student counsellor Manickavel Arumugam. “Colleges then meet parents, offer financial incentives such as fee discount of up tos 5 lakh a year and ask them to pay a part of the fee in advance. 

They also help them fill admission forms in ways that could steer allotments toward the college," he said. These arrangements can affect merit, he said.  

A parent said a college official promised a discount of up to 5 lakh a year — on annual fees that already run as high as 30 lakh — in exchange for early registration. “I decided to pay and pick the seat in the first round of counselling. But my son's teacher warned me I could lose the money,” said Varadharajan S, who works for an IT firm.

Paramedical intake: 27k register for 56k seats

Paramedical intake: 27k register for 56k seats 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  13.06.2026

Ahmedabad : Admissions for paramedical programmes in Gujarat, including BSc Nursing, have so far drawn a weaker-than-anticipated response, with registrations well below the total seats on offer. 

As per official information, about 26,900 candidates have registered for admission against over 56,000 seats available across govt and self-financed institutions in the state. So far, 24,442 applications have been verified. The admission procedure started on May 29 through the admission committee’s official portal, where students had to buy an online PIN and finish the registration process. 

The registration window closed on Friday, and a total of 27,347 PINs were issued during this period. Even so, the relatively small number of completed registrations suggests many seats could remain unoccupied. The deadline for document verification is June 13, and officials anticipate more candidates will complete verification by the last day. At the same time, the state board will conduct supplementary exams from June 11 to June 20. Once the supplementary results are announced, the authorities intend to restart PIN distribution and reopen registrations so additional students can apply

RGUHS to honour college founder amid legal dispute

RGUHS to honour college founder amid legal dispute 

Times News Network  BENGALURU 13.06.2026

Bengaluru : Ironically, RGUHS will award honorary doctorate to AC Shanmugam, founder chancellor of Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, an institute with which the varsity is having a legal tussle. 

In 2019, the Centre and UGC approved an application to change the college from under the ambit of RGUHS and transfer it to Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute, a deemed university in Chennai. 

RGUHS and the state govt opposed the move. They argued it will result in a massive loss of medical seats for Karnataka students and that UGC bypassed mandatory procedures by not consulting the state. 

The case is yet to conclude. The college is currently a constituent college of Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute. 

RGUHS said the name came from the governor’s office and they cannot do anything about it. RGUHS VC Bhagavan BC said, “It was a decision taken by the committee constituted by governor. There are three members, of which former VC Sacchidanand was the university’s nominee. We have no role in this beyond nominating a person to the panel.” 

Sharan Prakash Patil, medical education minister, wasn’t too happy about the choice. “This has come to my notice. We have gone to court against the college and they have got a stay. The legal fight is still on. But govt has no say in the selection process of honorary doctorates. All we can do is to initiate processes so that such things don’t happen in future.” 

Rajarajeshwari medical college official said the college has no issues with RGUHS. Apart from Shanmugam, the other awardees are Nailady Sridhar Shetty, former Dental Council of India president, and Harshangi Veerbhadrappa, paediatrician

NMC proposes to reinstate 10-year rule in MBBS without diluting rigour

NMC proposes to reinstate 10-year rule in MBBS without diluting rigour

The proposed relaxation is likely to benefit students facing academic losses, and health concerns, offering them more flexibility 

Rajlakshmi.Ghosh@timesofindia.com 08.06.2026 EDUCATION TIMES 

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has proposed a key amendment to the Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023, which could give MBBS students an additional year to complete their undergraduate medical education, taking the total duration to 10 years. The draft notification, titled ‘Graduate Medical Education (Amendment) Regulations, 2026’, has been placed in the public domain for feedback and objections. 

Under the existing regulations, students are required to complete the MBBS programme within nine years from the date of admission. The proposed amendment seeks to extend this limit to 10 years, including the compulsory rotating medical internship, offering students greater flexibility to manage academic, personal, or unforeseen challenges during the programme. 

Speaking to Education Times , NMC officials say, “The proposed amendment seeks to provide limited additional flexibility to students for completion of the MBBS programme in exceptional circumstances, while fully preserving the academic standards and competency requirements prescribed under the Graduate Medical Education Regulations (GMER) 2023. The amendment does not reduce, dilute or waive any academic requirement. Students will continue to be required to successfully complete all professional examinations, mandatory competencies and the Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship before being awarded the MBBS degree. 

The proposal merely extends the maximum permissible period for completion of the course from nine years to 10 years.” Medical education being a long-duration programme, students may occasionally face genuine academic, personal, health-related or other unforeseen circumstances that interrupt the normal progression of their studies. “The proposed amendment is intended to address such situations in a humane and pragmatic manner without compromising educational standards,” the officials add. 

A former NMC official on condition of anonymity, points out that the proposed amendment will be beneficial for students from rural Rajasthan, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, who have entered medical education through NEET but struggle to follow lessons in English. “The additional year can be a critical buffer, reducing the risk of students dropping out early due to language barriers,” he adds. 

Cap on Attempts 

Under the proposed changes, no student will be allowed more than four attempts to clear the first professional MBBS examination, a provision that remains unchanged. However, students would be allowed to continue the undergraduate medical course for up to 10 years from the date of admission, including the internship period. 

This is in alignment with the NMC’s Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) regulations, 2021. “A cap of four attempts in the first professional exam is unjustified, more so if students are in their first year and are still new to the system. If all MBBS students are given one year’s additional time, then why restrict them at a crucial stage?

 Further, the proposal will give private players an opportunity to blackmail students if they have faltered on fee payment. The cap could be used as a tool to instil fear among them with threats of imminent failure if they do not pay up,” the source adds. 

The proposed relaxation which seeks to bring back the 10-year rule, is likely to benefit students facing academic losses, health concerns, personal emergencies, or other unforeseen circumstances, offering them more flexibility to complete their medical education without losing eligibility

Only PCI Can Inspect Pharmacy Colleges: Council Warns States, Universities Against Re-Inspections

Only PCI Can Inspect Pharmacy Colleges: Council Warns States, Universities Against Re-Inspections 

Written By : Susmita Roy

Published On 17 May 2026 11:12 PM | Updated On 17 May 2026 11:12 PM

New Delhi: The Pharmacy Council of India has directed all state governments, universities and examining authorities to refrain from conducting re-inspections or subsequent inspections of pharmacy institutions that have already been inspected and approved by the Council, warning that such actions violate the provisions of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 and may invite strict legal action.

In a circular issued to all State Governments/UTs, Examining Authorities approved by PCI, State Admission Committees and Central Council members, the PCI clarified that under Section 16 of the Pharmacy Act, 1948, the statutory authority to inspect pharmacy institutions rests exclusively with the Council.

The Council stated that it has come to its notice that several universities and state authorities are continuing to conduct inspections of pharmacy institutions even after PCI approval has been granted, despite court rulings stating that such authorities do not possess statutory powers under the Act to undertake these inspections.

Also Read:PCI Mandates Implementation of New B.Pharm Syllabus from 2026-27 Under NEP 2020 

Referring to recent judicial pronouncements, the PCI cited an order dated October 6, 2025, passed by the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court in the case of Gramin Vikas Multipurpose Education Society and Prabhat Institute of Pharmacy vs PCI & Others. The Court held that if a statute prescribes a particular procedure, it must be followed in that manner alone, and observed that the Joint Director had no authority under the Pharmacy Act or PCI norms to inspect a pharmacy college once the No Objection Certificate (NOC) had already been issued.

The Court further observed that if complaints were received by the State Government or Joint Director, they could be forwarded to PCI, which alone could carry out inspections in accordance with the law.

The Council also referred to a November 26, 2025 judgment of the Karnataka High Court in Karnataka Pharmacy College Management Association vs Union of India and Others, where the Court ruled that the State Government lacked jurisdiction or authority to conduct inspections of pharmacy colleges in the absence of any statutory provision empowering it to do so.

According to the PCI circular, once the initial verification process for issuance of the first-time approval of the Examining Authority and NOC for starting a new pharmacy institution or course is completed, the concerned State Government, state authorities or universities cease to have jurisdiction to conduct re-inspections or subsequent inspections under the Pharmacy Act, 1948.

The Council reiterated that powers relating to inspection, monitoring, approval of courses, intake capacity and verification of pharmacy institutions vest exclusively with PCI under Section 16 of the Act.

PCI further directed that if any complaint, deficiency, irregularity or allegation concerning a pharmacy institution comes to the notice of any state government, university or authority, such details must be forwarded to the Council for appropriate action and further inspection, wherever necessary.

Warning against non-compliance, the Council stated that any violation of the provisions of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 and regulations framed thereunder by any authority, institution or examining body would be viewed seriously and strict action would be initiated in accordance with law.

One-Year PG vs Two: Reimagining the master’s degree under NEP 2020

One-Year PG vs Two: Reimagining the master’s degree under NEP 2020 

Given the diversity of higher education landscape, both pathways may need to coexist for some time, allowing varsities to adopt models aligned with their academic strengths 

Rajlakshmi.Ghosh@timesofindia.com 18.05.2026

As the implementation of NEP 2020 gathers pace, postgraduate education is undergoing one of its biggest transformations in decades. Universities are introducing multiple pathways to a master’s degree — a one-year PG for students completing a Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP), alongside the conventional two-year master’s route for students with a three-year bachelor’s degree. 

The shift is aimed at aligning higher education with global norms, improving flexibility, and creating research-centric academic trajectories. Since India’s higher education system is currently operating within multiple parallel academic structures involving traditional three-year UG programmes, FYUP models, autonomous university systems, and professional pathways, experts claim that a one-size-fits-all approach will no longer work. In such a diverse environment, an overly rigid approach may create unintended inequities.

 “Traditionally, the master’s degree functioned largely as an extension of UG learning. Today, however, PG education is increasingly being viewed as a stage of advanced specialisation, research orientation, innovation, and professional preparedness. This transition has been shaped both by NEP 2020 and the changing realities of the global knowledge economy. Universities are now expected to prepare graduates who are multidisciplinary, research-oriented, globally competitive, and capable of adapting to rapidly evolving sectors driven by technology and innovation. The one-year PG model emerges from this context. It assumes that students completing an FYUP, particularly Honours or Honours with Research, would have already acquired substantial academic grounding, research exposure, internships, and cross-disciplinary learning during the fourth year itself.

 This distinction has also been formally recognised in the UGC framework,” says Prof Raghavendra P Tiwari, vice-chancellor, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda. Global Benchmarks Considering the Indian one-year PG is still at the early stages of implementation and the first FYUP cohorts are only now entering the pipeline, quality will vary widely across institutions. “The UK one-year master’s degrees work because they sit on top of rigorous honours programmes with strong final-year research component besides being backed by established universities. The Indian variant will take years to build comparable credibility. Until then, a two-year PG from a reputed Indian institution carries far greater weight with international peers and employers than a one-year PG from an average university,” says Ram Kumar Kakani, vice-chancellor, RV University. 

“The need for the oneyear master’s is not organically driven nor is it choice of central universities,” says Abha Dev Habib, associate professor, Miranda House, University of Delhi (DU) advocating the need for a 3+2 PG format which is structurally more robust. “NEP 2020 introduced a flexible 4+1 structure with multiple exit options for UG and PG degrees, but it also made the system more ‘porous’. The added fourth year has increased student numbers without additional faculty, space, or research facilities. Colleges now face higher teaching loads, inadequate student-teacher ratios, and limited capacity to support undergraduate research. 

Under the new system, students who complete the fourth year of their undergraduate programme are eligible for a one-year MSc. However, no additional infrastructure or funding has been provided to support this change,” she adds. Pointing to the larger picture, Prof Tiwari says, “The one-year PG is envisioned as a more focused and intellectually intensive phase where students engage with specialised domains, emerging technologies. However, the effectiveness of this model will ultimately depend on the quality of FYUP implementation.” Given the diversity of the higher education landscape, both oneyear and two-year postgraduate pathways may need to coexist for some time, allowing universities to adopt models aligned with their academic strengths, regional realities, and student aspirations.

 18/05/2026, 06:50 Times of India ePaper ahmedabad - Read Today’s English News Paper Online https://epaper.indiatimes.com/timesepaper/publication-the-times-of-india,city-ahmedabad.cms 2/4 18/05/2026, 06:50 Times of India ePaper ahmedabad - Read Today’s E

State unlikely to enforce NMC order on MBBS fees for four­ and­ a­ half­ years

State unlikely to enforce NMC order on MBBS fees for four­ and­ a­ half­ years

 The Hindu (Kochi) A.S. Jay­anth KOZHIKODE 4 May 2026

The recent dir­ect­ive of the National Med­ical Com­mis­sion (NMC) to med­ical col­leges in the coun­try to levy fees from MBBS stu­dents only for four­ and­ a­half years is unlikely to be imple­men­ted in Ker­ala now.

In the order issued on April 7, the NMC had said that col­lect­ing fee from stu­dents for the entire dur­a­tion of the course for five years or five­ and­ a­ half years would not be per­mit­ted. The MBBS course com­prises four­ and­ a­ half years of aca­demic study, fol­lowed by one year of com­puls­ory rotat­ing intern­ship. In gov­ern­ment med­ical col­leges in Ker­ala, the annual fee is over ₹30,000, while in self­f in­an­cing col­leges it is around ₹8 lakh and above for the gen­eral cat­egory and ₹21 lakh and above for the NRI cat­egory.

This fee is determ­ined and revised by a fee reg­u­lat­ory com­mit­tee. It is now headed by retired High Court judge K.K. Dineshan. However, the incum­bent LDF gov­ern­ment is unlikely to take a decision on the dir­ect­ive now, as its ten­ure is set to end soon.

Mr. Dineshan told The Hindu recently that the fee reg­u­lat­ory com­mit­tee was bound by judg­ments of the Supreme Court of India and the Ker­ala High Court, as well as laws passed by the Ker­ala Legis­lat­ive Assembly. 

He said the fee fixed by the com­mit­tee for a batch would remain in force for the entire five year course. He poin­ted out that the High Court had, in 2022, cla­ri­fied that the NMC’s office memor­andum stip­u­lat­ing gov­ern­ment fees for 50% of seats in self­ fin­an­cing med­ical col­leges need not be imple­men­ted in Ker­ala.

Mean­while, the Ker­ala Uni­versity of Health Sci­ences (KUHS) is of the view that the dir­ect­ive should be imple­men­ted in the State.

KUHS Vice­ Chan­cel­lor Mohanan Kun­num­mal told The Hindu that other States such as Tamil Nadu and Karnataka were already plan­ning to enforce it. “However, we are not in a pos­i­tion to express our views on this because KUHS is not part of the fee reg­u­lat­ory com­mit­tee… There is a con­ten­tion that the entire course fee is divided over five years, so it can con­tinue that way. 

But such an argu­ment has not been explained any­where offi­cially,” he added. ‘The NMC said that col­lect­ing fees for five years or more was not con­sist­ent with the pre­scribed aca­demic struc­ture of the MBBS pro­gramme and could res­ult in charges for peri­ods that do not con­sti­tute aca­demic teach­ing. 

“Any instance of non­com­pli­ance shall be viewed ser­i­ously and appro­pri­ate action ini­ti­ated by the Com­mis­sion, as per the extant stat­utory and reg­u­lat­ory pro­vi­sions,” the order added.

Include foster parents’ names in birth certificate, orders HC

Include foster parents’ names in birth certificate, orders HC

 K.Kaushik@timesofindia.com 14.05.2026

Madurai : Dignity and the right to construct one’s own identity with reference to gender, familial and societal contexts is part of the right to privacy, Madras high court observed while granting relief to a woman who sought to include the names of her foster parents in her birth certificate without removing the names of her biological parents. 

The court was hearing a petition filed by a woman from Madurai, who is pursuing a UG degree. The petitioner stated that she was born in 2005. After her father passed away in 2006, her mother also deserted her. Her paternal uncle and his wife (aunt) raised her as their own daughter. The petitioner stated that in all her identity-related documents, her uncle and aunt’s names are mentioned as parents’ names. However, in the birth certificate alone, the biological parents’ names are mentioned. 

This has affected her right to be known as the daughter of her uncle and aunt and it also leads to serious prejudice to her education and career as well. Therefore, the petitioner made an application to include the names of her uncle and.as her father and mother in the birth certificate. However, the same was rejected on the ground that the petitioner should be validly adopted as per the provisions of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956. 

Challenging the order, the petitioner moved court. The woman’s counsel submitted that she did not seek to remove the names of the biological parents, but to include the names of her uncle and aunt as well. Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy observed the petitioner is not praying for proprietary rights in the foster family. She wants to be known as their daughter. The same would be within her fundamental right. This apart, her identity itself will be disputed and her education and career will be jeopardised since the names of her parents in all other certificates and birth certificate are different. 

The judge observed that there is not only an obligation on the state to respect the child’s right to preserve her identity, but there is also an obligation to provide appropriate assistance. Hence, the judge directed the petitioner to file notarised affidavits of her uncle and aunt, consenting to their names being added to the birth certificate of the petitioner with the suffix ‘foster’. Upon filing such affidavits, the chief registrar of births and deaths, shall also include the names of the uncle and aunt in the appropriate columns, the judge directed

ACADEMICS PIN HOPES ON NEW GOVRNMENT

NMC lifts MBBS seat cap, relaxes medical college expansion norms

NMC lifts MBBS seat cap, relaxes medical college expansion norms 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 04.05.2026

The NMC has amended key provisions of its UG medical education regulations, removing longstandingcaps on MBBS seats and easing infrastructure norms.The amendmentnotification revises provisions under the UG-MSR 2023 and the Graduate Medical Education Regulations, signallinga move towards greater institutionalflexibilityandcapacity building. Among the most consequentialchanges is the deletion of provisional capping MBBS intake at 150 seats per college, effective from the 2024-25 academic session. By removing this ceiling, the NMC has opened the door for medical colleges to expand intake beyond earlier limits, subject to meeting regulatory standards. NMC has removed population linked restriction that required states and Union Territories to maintain a ratio of 100 MBBS seats per 10 lakh population. This marks a departure from a planning framework that tied seat expansion to demographic benchmarks, potentially enabling fasterscaling in states with adequate infrastructure.NMC has revised norms governing the proximity between medical colleges and their associated teaching hospitals. Instead of a traveltime-based cap of 30 minutes, the new guidelines specify a maximum distance of 10 km between the two facilities.For institutions inthe Northeastern and Himalayan regions, this limit has been relaxed to 15 km to acknowledge geographical constraints. The changes are expected to have wide ranging implications.

HC bins RGUHS move to exclude senate members from panel

HC bins RGUHS move to exclude senate members from panel 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  03.05.2026

Bengaluru : The high court quashed a 2024 resolution of a syndicate meeting of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) excluding senate members from the local inspection committee on continuation of affiliation of colleges. 

J Nandeesh and other RGUHS senate members had challenged the resolution, contending the syndicate did not obtain the assent of the senate which has power to make, amend or repeal statutes under the RGUHS Act. Justice ES Indiresh pointed out that for amending or repealing the statute, the syndicate has to submit its proposal to the senate which has the power to give assent. Thereafter, such a resolution along with the recommendation of the senate should be placed before govt for assent. 

Even for continuation of affiliation, local inspection committee members have to verify the entire records pertaining to various requirements and even if there is any lacuna in compliance of mandatory provisions, it is the duty of the committee to withdraw the affiliation of the college concerned. In view of the matter, excluding the members of the senate would affect the foundation for decision making process, the judge said.

UGC allows state colleges to apply for deemed university status or become off-campus of universities

UGC allows state colleges to apply for deemed university status or become off-campus of universities 

The amendment, notified in the April 21 Gazette notification, also allows colleges to become off-campus centres of another deemed university or university. The changes have been formalised through a Gazette notification titled University Grants Commission [Institutions Deemed to be Universities] Amendment Regulations, 2026. 

ANI Published On Apr 26, 2026 at 12:07 PM IST 

The amendment, notified in the April 21 Gazette notification, also allows colleges to become off-campus centres of another deemed university or university New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has allowed autonomous and constituent colleges of state universities to apply for deemed-to-be university status, subject to permission from the respective state government. The amendment, notified in the April 21 Gazette notification, also allows colleges to become off-campus centres of another deemed university or university.

The changes have been formalised through a Gazette notification titled University Grants Commission [Institutions Deemed to be Universities] Amendment Regulations, 2026. 

According to the notification, "Universities established under clause (f) of section 2 of the Act or a constituent unit of a University may also apply to become an institution deemed to be a University or an off-campus of another institution deemed to be a University," provided they submit a no-objection certificate from the state government. It further clarifies that the state government must agree to de-notify such institutions, stating that they "shall be permitted to admit students or work as an off-campus or a new institution deemed to be a university only after formal de-notification by the concerned State Government." These changes have been introduced in the University Grants Commission's Institutions Deemed to be Universities Regulations, 2023. An institution of higher education can be deemed to be a university under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956.

Such institutions enjoy the academic status and privileges of a university, which helps strengthen their academic activities in specialised fields. There are a total of 146 deemed-to-be universities in India so far.

The amendments also revise accreditation-related provisions, removing the requirement of NAAC accreditation with a 3.01 cumulative grade point average (CGPA) for three consecutive cycles. Instead, institutions are now required to have accreditation "for three cycles, including the latest cycle," or an equivalent National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) grade. Advt

In the 2023 regulations, one of the conditions for deemed university status was valid NAAC accreditation with at least a 3.01 CGPA for three consecutive cycles. "In sub-regulation ... for the words 'for three consecutive cycles', the words 'or equivalent National Assessment and Accreditation Council grade, for three cycles, including the latest cycle' shall be substituted," the amended notification read.

The amendment also mentions that deemed universities receiving 50 per cent or more of their funds from the central or state governments may continue with their existing Memorandum of Association (MoA) for a specified period, subject to certain conditions.

As per the notification, such institutions must demonstrate "through its duly audited books of accounts that it is able to generate a minimum of fifty per cent of its revenue on its own, that is, total receipts."

Additionally, the clause specifies that "total expenses of the institute are more than twice the government grants given to them," along with fulfilment of other criteria within a defined period, as permitted by the central government.

UGC allows autonomous colleges to seek deemed university status

UGC allows autonomous colleges to seek deemed university status 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  27.04.2028

The UGC has permitted autonomous and constituent colleges of state universities to apply for deemed-to-be university status. The newly introduced provisions also allow these colleges to operate as off-campus centres for existing deemed universities. 

These structural changes were formalised through a Gazette notification issued recently, titled University Grants Commission [Institutions Deemed to be Universities] Amendment Regulations, 2026. The amendments modify the previous UGC regulations established in 2023. 

Currently, there are 146 deemed-to-be universities operating under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, enjoying the academic privileges of full-fledged universities to strengthen their specialised fields of study. While the path to deemed status has been opened, the transition hinges on strict clearance from state authorities. Institutions must secure a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from their respective state governments to move forward.

T.N. varsities to hold tests for Ph.D. admission despite UGC emphasis on NET

T.N. varsities to hold tests for Ph.D. admission despite UGC emphasis on NET

University of Madras and Bharathidasan University have already held their Ph.D. admissions; Bharathiar University initiates process for its common entrance test to be conducted in May

Bharathiar University has specified a minimum score of 15 out of 50 marks in the common eligibility test to be eligible for admission to its Ph.D. programmes. File photo

The Hindu Bureau. 21.04.2026

COIMBATORE

State universities have chosen to conduct their own exams for Ph.D. admissions 2026, for the second consecutive year despite the emphasis by University Grants Commission on UGC-NET (National Eligibility Test) as the sole national entrance test.

Ph.D. admissions have already been conducted by the University of Madras, Bharathidasan University and a few other State universities, and Bharathiar University (BU) has initiated the process for its common entrance test to be conducted in May.

Universities adopt different methods for admissions. The entrance exam by the University of Madras was based on entrance exam for 50 marks split into written (35 marks) and oral (15). Bharathidasan University had split the assessment of interview portion that was assigned 30 marks into three parts: subject knowledge expertise (15 marks), research aptitude (10 marks) and communication skills (five marks).

BU has specified a minimum score of 15 out of 50 marks in the Common Eligibility Test to be eligible for admission to Ph.D. programme.

In March 2024, the UGC requested vice-chancellors of Central, State, deemed and private universities to utilise the NET score conducted by National Testing Agency for admission to Ph.D. programmes instead of conducting their entrance tests from the 2024-25 academic session.

However, State universities in Tamil Nadu, it is learnt, have been instructed to desist from falling in line since the policy of one national entrance test for admission to Ph.D., according to the UGC, constituted implementation of the National Education Policy, 2020.

The public notice by the UGC stated that NET candidates will be declared eligible in three categories: category 1 - eligible for admission to Ph.D. with JRF and appointment as assistant professor; category 2- eligible for admission to Ph.D. without JRF and appointment as assistant professor; and category 3 - eligible for admission to Ph.D. programme only and not for award of JRF or appointment as assistant professor.

The State universities have, however, made sure that the UGC stipulation is also fulfilled by exempting those with UGC-NET qualification from their entrance tests.

BU Registrar R. Rajavel said the pattern of CET (Common Eligibility Test) would be based on National Eligibility Test (NET).

The BU has specified that candidates who have qualified UGC-NET, awardees of DST-INSPIRE fellowship, scientists working in the DRDO, faculty of Air Force Administrative College, candidates possessing M.Phil degree with a minimum score of 55%, holders of teacher fellowships (like Faculty Induction Programme and Faculty Development Programme) and candidates of foreign origin possessing prescribed qualifications shall be exempted from appearing for CET.

Six global universities to launch international campuses in India

Six global universities to launch international campuses in India 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  20.04.2026

 TIMES OF INDIA LUCKNOW

As India steps up efforts to position itself as a global education hub, six international universities – the University of Aberdeen, the University of Bristol, the Illinois Institute of Technology, the University of Liverpool, Victoria University and the University of York – have collectively committed a scholarship pool worth Rs 1,000 crore to improve access to global education within India thro ugh programmes offered at their upcoming India campuses.

 The initiative aims to expand seat capacity and programme offerings across high demand disciplines, particularly in AI and STEM, while also improving affordability for Indian students through a mix of meritand need-based financial support. All six universities are set to begin campus intake in India from August–September this year. The scholarship framework will support both undergraduate and postgraduate students, with tuition fee waivers ranging from 10% to 100% for selected candidates. 

The scholarship framework is designed to widen access across multiple segments. Merit-bas ed support will enable highperforming students, who might otherwise pursue education abroad, to access globally aligned degrees within India through partial tuition waivers. At the same time, need-based scholarships aim to extend opportunities to students from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, including first-generation learners.