Modi govt to bring common entrance test for all Central universities

New Delhi: The Modi government is planning to bring in a common entrance test for all Central universities in the country apart from considering a proposal to increase the number of intake of students into these universities.

Sources stated that the step assumes significance as a common entrance test and common counselling would save students from going to multiple places for tests and counselling into different universities.

The proposal is also expected to make it easier for students to seek transfer from one university to another. The decision on these issues is likely to be taken on October 6 at a meeting of vice chancellors of Central universities, chaired by Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar.

The meeting with VCs of 41 Central universities will take place at the Banaras Hindu University. It is understood that Javadekar wants to take a decision on this proposal which had been pending since Mr Kapil Sibal headed the HRD ministry during the erstwhile UPA government.

A proposal that aims to create a common syllabus, with some variation for each individual university, keeping in mind regional sensitivities is also likely to come up for discussion. It is understood that the common syllabus would help establish a certain educational level among students across the country.

The meet is also likely to discuss common rules and regulations for all Central universities as the government wants to make it easier for students to seek transfer from one university to the other. “This would help the students in seeking migration to other universities and help them seek admission to their desired courses,” sources added.

The meet will also focus on actions taken and proposed for improvement of quality in education, research, internal resource generation, infrastructure, student-centric initiatives, and e-governance initiatives, sources stated.

It has proposed that improving the quality and promoting research in these institutions will also be discussed at the meet. Mr Javadekar is also likely to press the VCs for improving the quality of education being imparted in our top institutions so as to improve their international rankings.

Earlier, the union minister had held a review meeting with the officials of IIITs, IITs, IISERs and IIMs to discuss plans for improving on the current educational standards.