Wednesday, December 11, 2024

UGC: CUET to help students break disciplinary barriers ‘It’s Time For Universities To Adopt Open-Minded Policies’

UGC: CUET to help students break disciplinary barriers ‘It’s Time For Universities To Adopt Open-Minded Policies’ 

Manash.Gohain@timesofindia.com 11.12.2024



New Delhi : M Jagadesh Kumar, chairperson, UGC while elaborating on the changes in CUETUG 2025, gave reasons for reverting back to computer-based test (CBT) following the controversies this year, reducing the number of subjects, making all questions compulsory, and standardising test durations for logistical efficiency as well as allowing students to appear for any subject irrespective of their class XII board subjects. 

● UGC is framing guidelines to allow students to pursue subjects at undergraduate level which they have not studied in school. Will CUET-UG allow candidates to appear in subjects they have not studied earlier? 

In CUET, students can write any subject paper independent of what they studied in school. For instance, an arts student can now pursue physics at the UG level if they acquire the necessary competency, even through self-learning. NEP 2020 encourages breaking disciplinary boundaries, and CUET enables this shift. Universities need to amend their ordinances and adopt open-minded policies. Some universities currently restrict admissions to students with prior school-level expertise in specific subjects, which contradicts NEP 2020’s ethos. Universities must facilitate interdisciplinary migration to truly benefit from CUET’s flexibility. 

● Will there be a limit on the number of subjects students can opt for in CUET-UG?

 For CUET-UG 2025, students can choose up to five subjects, down from six last year. Our data show most students select four subjects, so this change provides flexibility while making exam logistics smoother. This adjustment also allows us to allocate centres closer to students’ preferences. 

● What are the key changes planned for CUET-UG 2025? 

We are standardising the exam duration to 60 minutes for all papers, with each carrying 250 marks. Students will now answer all 40 questions, eliminating choices to ensure a fair and comprehensive evaluation. The shift to mandatory questions reduces bias caused by varying difficulty levels of optional questions. 

● What will be the format of the CUET-UG 2025? 

CUET-UG and PG will primarily use CBT, as recommended by Dr Radhakrishnan’s committee. CBT minimises risks like paper leaks and ensures greater reliability.

 ● What other changes are being introduced for CUET-UG? 

The medium of the exam will remain in 13 languages. However, for 20 less commonly chosen languages, including foreign and some Indian languages, we will use the General Aptitude Test for admissions. Additionally, six domain-specific subjects with low registrations— entrepreneurship, teaching aptitude, fashion studies, tourism, legal studies, and engineering graphics—will also shift to the aptitude test. These changes reduce the total papers from 63 to 37, streamlining logistics.

 ● When will the CUET-UG and PG schedules be announced? 

The schedules will likely be released in December. CUET-PG is planned for March 2025, while CUET-UG will follow the bo ard exams, likely in May.

 ● Delays in result announcements have been a concern… With the CBT format, result processing will be faster. However, certain steps, like response validation by subject experts, are essential to maintain accuracy. We aim to streamline these processes to minimise delays. 

● Do you anticipate more registrations in 2025? 

Last year saw 13.47 lakh registrations, and with more universities adopting CUET, we expect this number to rise.

 ● What role does coaching play in CUET-UG preparation?

 A. Minimal. Students who focus on their board exams perform well in CUET-UG, as its difficulty level is moderate. The feedback from students confirms this, emphasising the test’s accessibility. 

● What has been CUET’s biggest advantage and challenge so far? 

CUET ensures a level playing field by eliminating biases inherent in board evaluations and fostering diversity in universities. However, logistical challenges, like conducting the exam twice  a year or enabling on-demand testing, remain. With infrastructure growth, we hope to offer more flexible options in the future

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