NEW DELHI/BENGALURU: The University Grants Commission (UGC)’s draft notification to grade Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) based on their implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has met with resistance from universities in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and other states. These states, which have not adopted the NEP, argue that the proposed framework could prove disadvantageous to their institutions and students.
The notification, issued on January 3, 2025, outlines a plan to evaluate HEIs through a two-step process, emphasising NEP implementation to grant privileges and entitlements under various UGC regulations. Universities in states like Tamil Nadu, which do not recognise NEP-driven four-year integrated degree programs, have raised concerns over students losing out on govt job opportunities due to non-equivalence.
Vice-chancellors of several universities have questioned the fairness of such a system. S Vaidhyasubramania, vice-chancellor of SASTRA Deemed University, Chennai, said, “HEIs in states that are not aligned with NE will be disadvantaged if NE implementation status alone is used as a grading metric. Instead, grading and granting of privileges can be based on NIRF or NAAC or NE implementation score and gradually may be NE based only after UGC ensures that all states align with NE.”
A key contention is the weightage given to admissions through the Common University Entrance Test (CUET). While the test is central to NEP’s vision, universities from states not implementing the policy find the requirement problematic. Prof Niranjana, vice-chancellor of Bengaluru North University, highlighted the challenges: “If we apply the same parameters, universities in our state are going to score very low. All the questions are based on the assumption that we continue with NEP. This will make it very difficult for the universities of Karnataka to get higher grades and thus central assistance. Students are going to lose out for no fault of theirs. UGC must reconsider the criteria for ranking.”
Additionally, questions on foreign collaborations in the UGC document have raised eyebrows. The draft seeks detailed information on the nature and extent of collaborations with international institutions, including twinning arrangements, joint degrees, and faculty exchanges. Smaller and regional HEIs, lacking such partnerships, fear being pushed further down the rankings.
Paul Newman, principal of St Joseph’s Evening College, Bengaluru, pointed out the broader implications: “It is not just Karnataka but many other states in India which have not implemented the NEP and it includes the states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Bengal that are the most productive, intellectual and industrious. UGC must realise that education was in the state list and then moved to the concurrent list and states are constitutionally empowered to have their own educational systems. In this politics between the states and the Centre it will be the students of the non-NEP states who would be losing out. UGC must refrain from coming out with such ideas and stick to the policy of grading purely based on NAAC assessment.”
The UGC has invited feedback from stakeholders through an online platform, with a 30-day window for submissions. However, the growing opposition underscores the tension between centralised policies and state autonomy. Critics warn that unless addressed, the grading framework could deepen inequities, sidelining institutions in non-NEP states and smaller HEIs lacking global exposure.
