UGC plans reform of agricultural university admission tests from 2027-28

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has taken an initiative to reform the agricultural university admission test system, aiming to fill all first-year seats and complete academic activities within the stipulated timeframe.

The proposed reforms include introducing creative questions alongside multiple-choice questions (MCQs), assessing students’ analytical skills and determining the importance of SSC and HSC grade point averages (GPAs) in the admission process, according to a press release.

UGC Chairman Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed has proposed forming a committee comprising vice-chancellors of agricultural universities to recommend ways to improve the quality of admission tests and reduce delays in the admission process.

The committee is expected to make recommendations on improving the quality of admission questions, assessing students’ actual merit, filling all available seats and ensuring that academic activities begin and end on schedule from the 2027-28 academic session.

The UGC chairman has asked the vice-chancellors to submit their recommendations for forming the committee.

He made the proposal at an exchange-of-views meeting with vice-chancellors of agricultural universities at the UGC office on Sunday.

The meeting was informed that applications for undergraduate first-year admission under the agricultural university cluster system for the 2026-27 academic session are planned to begin in January, with admission tests scheduled to start in February.

Vice-chancellors said around one lakh students take part in the agricultural university cluster admission test every year. However, completing admission from waiting lists and the migration or subject-change process takes nearly four months.

As a result, newly established agricultural universities, in particular, face difficulties in filling their seats, delaying the commencement of academic activities.

The UGC chairman said no seat should remain vacant due to delays in the admission process. Academic activities must begin and end within the stipulated timeframe.

He said admission questions should be designed to assess students’ subject knowledge, actual merit and analytical abilities. Effective steps must be taken to improve the admission test system from the 2027-28 academic session, he added.

The vice-chancellors also stressed the need to modernise and harmonise the curricula of agricultural universities. They proposed developing common guidelines for designing and updating agriculture-related curricula and ensuring consistency among agricultural degrees.

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They also recommended introducing courses on career development, research methodology and mathematics to better prepare students for professional careers.

The UGC chairman said the commission plans to expand internship opportunities for all university students within the next five years.

He stressed making internships mandatory and paid, while ensuring that industries and employers participate in the initiative instead of relying solely on government funding. He also advised universities to strengthen coordination with industries to facilitate the programme.