Addressing Vacant Seats
The UGC has reported that a significant number of seats remain vacant in Central Universities and their affiliated colleges, even after three or four rounds of counselling.This issue not only represents a waste of resources but also deprives many aspiring students of the opportunity to pursue higher education in these institutions.
Ensuring Quality Education
The UGC emphasises that vacant seats in Central Universities represent lost opportunities for students seeking quality higher education. To address this issue, the UGC has approved a set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) designed to help Central Universities fill these vacant seats effectively.
Primary Admission Criteria
The UGC has reiterated that the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) scores will continue to be the primary criteria for granting admission to students. All Central Universities have been instructed to admit students through CUET scores. However, if seats remain vacant even after several rounds of counselling using CUET scores, universities are allowed to take additional measures to fill these seats.
Statement from UGC Chairman
Speaking to ANI, UGC Chairman Prof. M Jagadesh Kumar highlighted the importance of filling every available seat. “Every seat is valuable in our universities. The UGC has provided SOPs to ensure that seats are filled, using CUET scores as the primary criteria. However, if vacancies persist, universities are permitted to conduct their own entrance exams or consider marks from qualifying examinations,” he said.
Prof. Kumar further emphasised the need for transparency and merit in the admission process. “The goal is to ensure that no seat remains vacant and that every student has the opportunity to pursue their education in Central Universities,” he added.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
The SOPs approved by the UGC include several key measures:
Consideration of CUET Scores: Students who appeared in CUET, regardless of whether they previously applied to the concerned university, may be considered for admission. Universities may also relax domain subject-specific criteria for admission to certain courses.
Conducting University-Level Entrance Exams: If seats remain vacant after exhausting the list of CUET applicants, universities may conduct their own entrance examinations or screening tests at the departmental level.
Admission Based on Qualifying Examination Marks: Universities may also admit students based on their marks obtained in the qualifying examination.
Merit and Transparency: The entire admission process must be based on merit and conducted transparently to ensure fairness.
Reservation Roster: The reservation roster will be applicable for admission to all courses and programmes, ensuring compliance with reservation policies.
Timely Completion: Universities must ensure the timely completion of the admission process to prevent any academic loss for students.