
The University Grants Commission (UGC) is exploring the introduction of a standard counselling process for students based on the Central Universities Entrance Test (CUET) scores. Drawing inspiration from the centralised counselling procedures employed in medical and engineering admissions, this initiative is poised to provide a unified and streamlined platform for applicants to central universities.
UGC has formed a dedicated committee, incorporating officials from diverse universities, to assess this proposal’s feasibility and potential impact. A pilot run will involve five prestigious institutions, signifying a crucial step towards realising this ambitious project.
The CUET-UG, which debuted in 2022, has quickly emerged as a pivotal mechanism for undergraduate admissions across central universities, registering an impressive 14.9 lakh candidates. Its widespread acceptance has propelled it to become the second-largest entrance examination in India, surpassing the traditional frontrunner, the JEE-Main, in terms of participant numbers.
The National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for orchestrating the CUET-UG, has announced a hybrid examination format for the 2024 iteration. This format, accommodating both computer-based testing and traditional pen-and-paper assessments, aims to cater to candidates’ diverse needs and preferences. The mode of examination for specific subjects will be determined based on registration numbers, with higher-demand subjects being allocated to the pen-and-paper format utilising optical mark recognition (OMR) technology.
