The University Grants Commission (UGC) has introduced a new curriculum and credit framework for postgraduate (PG) programs to enhance flexibility and mobility in higher education. Unlike previous ones, this framework does not mandate discipline-specific prerequisites for entry into either one-year or two-year PG programs. Furthermore, it allows students enrolled in the two-year program to exit after the first year if they choose.
This initiative is part of the UGC's broader efforts to restructure postgraduate education, providing students with greater freedom and choice in their academic pursuits. The framework clearly defines the credit system and curriculum content for both one-year and two-year program durations, including the option for students to leave the two-year program after completing the first year.
UGC chairman M Jagadesh Kumar stated, "The framework, with no discipline-specific entry requirements, outlines the credits and academic structure for one-year and two-year PG programs. It provides an exit option after the first year of the two-year program. Flexibility and mobility are its key features."
This new curriculum framework aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which promotes the development of restructured degree programs that offer the same flexibility in undergraduate education. According to the UGC PG program framework, a student is eligible for a PG program in a discipline corresponding to either a major or minor(s) discipline in their undergraduate (UG) program. Universities can admit students to PG programs based on their performance in the UG program or through an entrance examination.
By introducing this new framework, the UGC aims to make postgraduate education more adaptable to individual student needs and interests, fostering a more personalized and student-centric approach to higher education in India.
