University Grants Commission Plans to Dilute Major Subject

The University Grants Commission has proposed a new curriculum for undergraduate programmes under which only 30 per cent of the students’ workload will relate to their subject of specialisation, down from the current 73 per cent.

Some academics said this would “dilute” the quality of undergraduate programmes, with the new graduates lacking rigour or in-depth knowledge in their purported areas of specialisation.

The UGC has sought feedback from stakeholders by April 4 on its draft “framework and credit system for four-year undergraduate programme” (FYUGP), which is to replace the choice-based credit system (CBCS) introduced in 2015.

Under the proposed curriculum, students will pursue courses of 160 credits, of which 48 credits will be allotted to the study of the major (formerly “honours”) subject.