University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar emphasized on Monday the need for higher education institutions to adopt the semester system in place of annual examinations to enhance student evaluation and learning.
Highlighting the importance of continuous assessment, Kumar stated that universities still using the annual examination system should transition to the semester system, which is widely recognized globally. “Conducting exams just once a year deprives students of regular feedback essential for improving their learning process,” he told reporters in Indore. He suggested that students should also be assessed through mid-semester exams, discussions, assignments, and other activities.
Additionally, Kumar announced that approximately 6,300 colleges and universities would benefit from the newly approved “One Nation, One Subscription” scheme, aimed at providing nationwide access to scholarly research articles and journals, thus strengthening the research infrastructure in higher education.
Speaking at a regional conference on implementing the New National Education Policy (NEP), organized by UGC and Devi Ahilya University in Indore, Kumar highlighted the NEP’s potential to promote social justice, equality, and employment in alignment with the Constitution’s principles. He also emphasized greater autonomy for higher education institutions, stating, “Since the introduction of NEP 2020, we have avoided micromanaging institutions, providing instead a broad framework to encourage experimentation and innovation.”
Kumar acknowledged significant changes in universities over the past four years and reaffirmed UGC’s goal of increasing India’s gross enrollment ratio in higher education to 50% by 2035. Addressing concerns about some states delaying NEP 2020 implementation, he clarified, “These states are not entirely opposed but are lagging in implementation. We are actively engaging with them to ensure progress.”
