The Centre has decided it will not go ahead with the common entrance exams for undergraduate and postgraduate courses this year, amid protests by students who don’t want such an exam amid the pandemic, according to two education department officials.

The education ministry had been considering a proposal to switch to the Central University Common Entrance Test (CUCET) for selection of students instead of admission based on board exam performance.

“The proposal was examined. We don’t have adequate time for the conduct of the test. It will be held next year,” one of the two senior officials said.

The new academic session in universities and colleges across the country will begin from October 1, while the admission process has to be completed by September 30, according to new guidelines of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Students are opposed to CUCET this year because schools could not cover the entire syllabus in a pandemic-hit year and questions could be set on the whole curriculum because there was no uniformity in the selection of portions that were omitted. Moreover, the students had said they would not get enough time to prepare for CUCET.

Students have been holding an online campaign and have written to the education minister, the UGC and several universities against CUCET.

Twelve central universities that have been holding a common entrance exam for postgraduate courses are yet to decide their mode this year and will meet shortly to take a decision.

DU admissions

Delhi University will start the registration process of the 65,000-odd undergraduate seats at its colleges on August 2 and is likely to announce the first cut-off list between September 7 and 10, acting vice-chancellor P.C. Joshi announced on Saturday.

The university said it would continue with its merit-based selection process by considering board exam marks.

The varsity will, however, hold the DU Entrance Test (DUET) for candidates seeking admission to MPhil, PhD and postgraduate courses and some undergraduate courses such as those in physiotherapy, occupational therapy and prosthetics and orthotics. The registration for these will start on July 26 and will continue till August 21.

Students happy

Namrata Kalita from Jorhat in Assam, who is seeking admission to an undergraduate course in DU, said they were against CUCET due to lack of time and information about the exam pattern.

“I am happy that DU has decided to go for merit-based selection. We were concerned about CUCET this year. We needed time for preparation. There is no time. More than half of the year is gone and we are in a state of anxiety about the admission process,” Kalita said.

She said the CBSE’s decision to award Class XII board marks on the basis of performance in Classes X and XI exams and Class XII pre-board tests was a fair process.

“This rationalisation will ensure fair evaluation. Students will get admission in colleges of their choice,” Kalita said.

She said a common test would have given undue advantage to students who are already preparing for other entrance exams.

“Next year when CUCET is held, students should be given enough time so that there is an even playing field. We are not against CUCET, but it should be held in a proper manner with adequate information given to students well in advance,” Kalita said.