UGC has proposed Central Eligibility Test or CET for UG/PG admissions for all Central Universities from next academic session or AY 2022-23. Also, UGC NET has been recommended for PhD admissions, wherever possible.

• In a recent letter, UGC has suggested that the admissions to all Central Universities would be done through CET from 2022-23.

• UGC NET is also to be considered for PhD admissions, as far as possible and feasible.

• CET or Common Eligibility Test would be conducted for UG/PG admissions for all Central Universities by NTA from 2022-23.

University Grants Commission, UGC has asked the Central Universities to prepare for the Common Entrance Test or CET for admissions to various undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses from the academic year 2022-23. The commission has also said that the admission for the PhD programme would be done on the basis of the National Eligibility Test or UGC NET examination, wherever feasible.

Central Eligibility Test or CETs for the Central Universities would be conducted by National Testing Agency in at least 13 languages. Private and other deemed universities are also welcome to consider the CET scores for the admissions. CET for Central Universities was expected to begin from this year but was deferred due to the pandemic.

In a letter to the Vice Chancellors of all universities, UGC has written, “Accordingly, all central universities are advised to take appropriate measures for the Common Entrance Test from the academic session 2022-2023. These tests would be conducted in minimum 13 languages in which NTA is already conducting JEE and NEET examinations.”

“The Common Entrance Test may also be adopted by the willing state/private universities/deemed to be universities,” the letter further read. The changes have been proposed in accordance to the National Education Policy, NEP 2020.

NEP had proposed a central examination for admission to all the universities in the country, thus reducing the dependence on board exams. The CET is also expected to provide a uniform platform for all students. The same is now expected to be brought to force from the academic year 2022-23, which is for next year students.

For the same, a committee was constituted to suggest the modalities for the CET for all Central Universities. “The committee held several rounds of discussions regarding the modalities in details for conducting the CET. Thereafter, a meeting was held with the vice-chancellors of all central universities on November 21 to discuss the recommendations of the panel,” letter reads.

NTA is expected to conduct a high-quality common aptitude test and a specialised common subject test for sciences, humanities, languages, arts, and vocational subjects for admissions to the higher education institutions.