Single test for all Central varsities mooted

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has recommended to the ministry of human resources development that all Central universities should have a common admission test.

"We are not disturbing the quota that the universities may have, this is just a recommendation that will go a long way to help students," said Dr A Nigavekar, chairman, UGC.

Announcing the golden jubilee celebrations of UGC, Nigavekar said UGC was in no way encroaching on the autonomy of the universities.

He added that a common entrance for the nine Central universities would only reduce the harassment of students.

Nigavekar added that UGC had also prepared a concept paper for a model Act that could serve as a guideline for both the Centre and the states to set up universities.

At present, states have a variety of Acts for universities that were set up. While states like Kerala were moving towards a unified University Act, other states promulgated different legislations to set up universities.

The ministry of human resource development is also considering amending the UGC Act of 1953 to give the commission more teeth, which will include adding a penal provision in the Act.

The amendment will also change the commission's name.

As part of its golden jubilee celebrations, UGC is going to set up four national institutes of science in collaboration with research organisations with research organisations like DRDO, CSIR, ISRO in the four regions of the country.