Degree level back papers will now have to be cleared within two years, says UGC

According to the new University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines, the students pursuing degree level courses in any university under UGC will be given only two additional years in order to clear their backlog papers. The candidates can also get another year to clear the papers only under ‘exceptional’ circumstances.

The step has been taken to bring uniformity in the timespan in which a student should complete the degree courses. The guidelines have already been sent to the vice-chancellors of various universities under the UGC and will soon be applied at the premises of the universities. Under these new guidelines, those students who are undergoing their Graduation Degree of three years (four for technical courses) will only get two extra years to clear the papers in which they have not succeeded to go further. This will be the case with all the post graduate courses as well.

The guideline mentioning the ‘exceptional’ case said, “In exceptional circumstance, a further extension of one more year may be granted. During this extended period, the student shall, however, be considered a private candidate and not be eligible for ranking.” The guidelines were a result of the expert committee which was formulated by UGC to determine that there would be uniform time period of completion of degree level programmes in the colleges following a Delhi High Court ruling recently. Till date, there have been varied time periods given to students in the various universities around the country to complete their degree programmes.

Making it clear that the guidelines are recommendatory in nature and is not binding any institute to follow it, the UGC Chairman Ved Prakash said, “Universities are best-placed to decide what durations are required for developing competence and the skill expected of a candidate.”