UGC's New SOPs to Fill Vacant Seats in Central Universities

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced new standard operating procedures for central universities to fill vacant seats in undergraduate and postgraduate courses. These measures include conducting their own entrance exams or admitting students based on marks from qualifying exams if seats remain unfilled after CUET admissions.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has unveiled new guidelines allowing central universities to either conduct their own entrance exams or admit students based on their qualifying exam marks if vacancies persist after CUET admissions.

This move aims to prevent resource wastage and ensure broader access to quality higher education. UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar stated that unfilled seats deny many students the opportunity to pursue higher studies, highlighting the need for these measures.

The UGC emphasized that CUET scores will remain the primary criterion. Still, universities can relax domain-specific requirements and consider students who appeared for CUET, even if they did not initially apply for specific programs. The entire admission process must remain transparent and merit-based.

(With inputs from agencies.)