In exercise of the powers conferred by clauses (f) and (g) of sub section (1) of Section 26 read with clause (j) of section 12 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956) and in supersession of UGC (Minimum Standards of Instruction for the Grant of the First Degree through Formal Education) Regulations, 2003 and UGC

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-04042025-262245 EXTRAORDINARY PART III-Section 4 PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 271] NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2025/CHAITRA 12, 1947 UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 26th March, 2025 UGC (Minimum Standards of Instruction for the Grant of Undergraduate Degree and Postgraduate Degree) Regulations, 2025 F. No. 1-3/2021/QIP/Multiple Entry-Exit).—In exercise of the powers conferred by clauses (f) and (g) of sub-section (1) of Section 26 read with clause (j) of section 12 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956) and in supersession of UGC (Minimum Standards of Instruction for the Grant of the First Degree through Formal Education) Regulations, 2003 and UGC (Minimum Standards of Instruction for the Grant of the Master's Degree through Formal Education) Regulations, 2003 and its amendments dated March 2008 and May 2014, the University Grants Commission hereby makes the following Regulations, namely:- 1.0 Short title, application, and commencement. - a) These Regulations may be called the University Grants Commission (Minimum Standards of Instruction for the Grant of Undergraduate Degree and Postgraduate Degree) Regulations, 2025; b) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2.0 Application.- These Regulations shall apply to every University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act, or a State Act, all institutions and colleges recognized by or affiliated to such Universities, and all institutions deemed to be universities under Section 3 of the UGC Act 1956. 3.0 Definitions. - In these Regulations, i. "Act" means the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956); ii. "Academic Council" or "Senate” means the body empowered to take decisions regarding all academic matters in a Higher Educational Institution; iii. "Academic Year" means a duration of twelve months beginning either in January to February or in the month of July to August, as the case may be, of every calendar year; iv. "Award" means qualifications such as certificate/diploma/degree awarded by competent bodies when a student has met the requirements of the qualification; V. "Academic Bank of Credits" (ABC) means an academic service mechanism as a digital, virtual or online entity established by the Commission with the approval of the Central Government to facilitate students to become its academic account holders, thereby paving the way for seamless student mobility between or within degree-granting Higher Educational Institutions through a formal system of credit recognition, credit accumulation, credit transfers and credit redemption to promote distributed and flexible teaching- learning; vi. "Assessment bands" means clubbing of levels between two mandatory stages as per NCrF. The NCrF levels are equated with the assessment stage which will be a mandatory stage for a student/learner to clear; vii. "Biannual admission" means the process of admitting students twice a year i.e. July/August and January/February; viii. "Commission" means the University Grants Commission established under Section 4 of the Act; ix. "Course" means one of the specified units which go to comprise a specified programme of study; Χ. "Credit" means the number of hours of instruction required per week over the duration of a semester as defined in the National Credit Framework (NCrF); xi. "Credit requirements" means the value assigned for a course/programme. A student who has met the credit requirements means he/she has successfully completed the course/program; xii. "Credit transfer" means the mechanism by which the Higher Educational Institutions registered with the ABC are able to receive or provide prescribed credits to individual Academic Bank Accounts in adherence to the norms for the courses undergone/experiences gained by the students through the offline/online/ ODL/Private/RPL mode; xiii. “Degree” means a degree awarded by a Higher Educational Institution in accordance with the provisions of section 22(3) of the Act; xiv. "Higher Educational Institution" (HEI) means a university or institution specified under clause 2 of these Regulations; xv. "Learning outcomes" mean statements of what a learner knows, understands and is able to do on completion of a learning process and a programme/course of study; xvi. "Levels" mean a series of sequential stages, as given in the National Credit Framework (NCrF), expressed in terms of a range of learning outcomes against which typical qualifications are positioned/located; xvii. "Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)" mean such online courses that are developed as per the pedagogy following the four quadrant approach; xviii. "Multiple entry and exit” means an enabling mechanism wherein the learner can exit after any level and join back to continue in the programme and acquire higher qualifications within a specified duration; xix. "National Higher Education Qualifications Framework" means a descriptive framework that organizes qualifications according to a series of levels of knowledge/competencies/skills; XX. “Online Mode” means a mode of providing flexible learning opportunities by overcoming the separation of teacher and learner using the internet, e-learning materials and full-fledged programme delivery through the internet using technology-assisted mechanisms and resources; xxi. "Open and Distance Learning Mode" means a mode of providing flexible learning opportunities by overcoming the separation of teacher and learner using a variety of media, including print, electronic, online and occasional interactive face-to-face meetings with the learners or Learner Support Services to deliver teaching-learning experiences, including practical or work experiences; xxii. "Programme" or "Programme of study" means a higher education programme pursued for a degree specified by the Commission under sub-section (3) of section 22 of the Act; xxi11. “Recognition of Prior Learning" (RPL) means an assessment process designed to evaluate an individual's skills, knowledge, and experience acquired through formal, non-formal, or informal learning experiences; xxiv. “UG Certificate" means a certificate after completing 1 year of study (2 semesters) in the chosen fields of study in a UG programme; XXV. “UG Diploma" means a diploma awarded after 2 years (4 semesters) of study in the chosen fields of study in a UG programme; xxvi. “University" means a Higher Educational Institution established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act, or a State Act and shall include any institution for higher education deemed to be a University under Section 3 of the Act. 4.0 General Requirements for HEIs. - 1. HEIs prepared to handle biannual admissions may admit students twice a year, in July/August and January/February. 2. The student in-take capacity shall be determined by the university/institution in advance through its statutory bodies based on the academic and physical facilities available, the student-teacher ratio, the teaching-non- teaching ratio in accordance with the UGC guidelines/norms, and other statutory bodies concerned. 3. Every HEI shall lay down the norms concerning classrooms, laboratories, library, sports and health facilities, hostel accommodation, canteen/ cafeteria, and other facilities. While prescribing the norms for such facilities as a condition for affiliation, the HEI shall keep in view the guidelines/norms issued by the UGC and other statutory bodies concerned. 4. Integration of higher education, vocational education, training & skilling, and internship shall be made as part of the UG and PG curricular structure, in accordance with the Curriculum and Credit Frameworks for UG, PG, and Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programmes, notified by the UGC. 5. HEIs shall provide multiple entry and exit options in the academic programmes. 6. Mobility of a student from vocational education to general education or vice-versa, shall be as per the procedure prescribed in the relevant guidelines issued by the regulatory bodies concerned. 5.0 Eligibility criteria for admission (Undergraduate / Postgraduate). - 1. A student who has passed Level 4/Class 12 schooling (either through formal schooling or through the open school system) or its equivalent shall be eligible for admission to an undergraduate programme or Integrated undergraduate/postgraduate degree programme. 2. Irrespective of the disciplines taken by a student in level 4/class 12 schooling, a student is eligible for admission in any discipline of UG programme if the student qualifies the National level or University level entrance examination in the discipline of UG programme. Where required, the university may provide the necessary bridge courses to the students to address the knowledge gaps which may arise when students from varied disciplines are admitted. 3. A student shall be eligible for admission to a postgraduate degree programme if he/she has passed a 3-year undergraduate degree (level 5.5, a total of 120 credits) / 4-year undergraduate degree with Honours/Honours with Research (level 6, a total of 160 credits). 4. Irrespective of the major or minor disciplines taken by a student in a UG programme, a student is eligible for admission in any discipline of PG programmes if the student qualifies for the National level or University level entrance examination in the discipline of PG programme. 5. A student can pursue two UG programmes simultaneously with flexibility in terms of change of discipline/institution/mode of learning as given in the UGC's Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programmes, and Guidelines for Pursuing Two Academic Programmes simultaneously. 6. A student can pursue two PG programmes simultaneously with flexibility in terms of change of discipline/institution/mode of learning as given in the UGC's Curriculum and Credit Framework for Postgraduate Programmes and Guidelines for Pursuing Two Academic Programmes simultaneously. 6.0 Accumulation of credits as part of UG/PG programme other than regular modes. - 1. Learnings from multiple modes other than regular modes such as ODL, Online and RPL modes are creditizable through a well-defined assessment process. The credits obtained by the learner shall be incorporated in the transcripts that count for the final award of the degree. The guidelines/regulations notified by UGC from time to time on ODL, Online and RPL shall be applicable. 2. UG Certificate, UG Diploma and Degree programmes under ODL/Online mode shall be pursued with only such HEIs which are recognized by UGC for running such programmes. 7.0 Curriculum and Credit Framework. - The norms with respect to the curriculum content, curriculum transaction, educational technologies for the courses offered, their timing, continuous evaluation methods, and novel methods of assessment shall be as decided by the universities/autonomous colleges in accordance with holistic, multidisciplinary education advanced by NHEQF, Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programme and Curriculum and Credit Framework for Postgraduate Programme. 8.0 Attendance Requirement. - Considering the diverse learning modes and holistic and multidisciplinary learning opportunities suggested by NEP 2020, HEIs shall decide on the minimum attendance requirement of students in different programmes with the approval of their statutory bodies. 9.0 Examinations and Evaluation. - 1. The university shall adopt the directions/guidelines issued by the UGC and other statutory bodies concerned from time to time with respect to the conduct of examinations. 2. The units of evaluation, namely, tests, seminars, presentations, class performance, fieldwork, etc., and the weightage assigned to each of such units in respect of each course shall be determined by the appropriate academic body of the university and shall be made known to the students at the beginning of the academic session of the year, or the semester, as the case may be. 3. The nature of the final examination, whether written (online/offline) or oral or both, with respect to each course shall also be made known to the students at the beginning of the academic session. 4. There shall be continuous evaluation in each course in addition to semester/year-end examinations, and the credits in respect of each course shall be prescribed by the appropriate academic body and made known to the students. No credit can be earned by the student unless the student is assessed for the achievement of the desired competencies and outcome of a program. 5. The HEIs shall work out and adopt a table of conversion of grades into percentages and vice-versa. 6. While the actual process of evaluation shall be confidential, the system of evaluation shall be sufficiently transparent, and a student shall be given access to his/her answer script as per the procedure laid down in this regard by the university. 7. HEIs shall accord priority to continuous formative assessment. 10.0 Integration of Skill Courses and Apprenticeships. - A student has to earn a minimum of 50% of total credits in a discipline to earn an undergraduate degree with a major in that discipline. For the remaining 50% credits, the students may choose skill courses, apprenticeships and multidisciplinary subjects. 11.0 Duration and Certification. - The duration of an undergraduate degree shall be either 3 or 4 years, and a postgraduate degree shall normally be either 1 year or 2 years. However, the duration of an undergraduate degree can be shorter or longer, as per Annexure I. Both UG and PG programmes shall have multiple entry multiple exit points as given in the NCrF. Students, when they exit after any level, shall be awarded appropriate certification based on the additional credits they earn from work-based vocational/skill courses over and above the prescribed number of credits, as given below: 11.1 Undergraduate Certificate (Field of Study/Discipline). - i. Students who have earned a total of 40 credits by completing level 4.5 of NCrF and exit from the undergraduate programme shall be awarded an undergraduate certificate provided they have undergone a minimum 4-credit skill-enhancement course(s) over and above the 40 credits earned for completing level 4.5. ii. Students shall be allowed to join back in the 2nd year at level 5 before the expiry of the credits earned, subject to a maximum duration of seven years. The procedure for depositing and redemption of credits shall be as per the UGC (Establishment and Operation of Academic Bank of Credits in Higher Education) Regulations, 2021, as amended from time to time. 11.2 Undergraduate Diploma (Field of Study/Discipline). - i. Students who have earned a total of 80 credits by completing levels 4.5 and 5 of NCrF and exit from the undergraduate programme shall be awarded an undergraduate diploma provided they have undergone a minimum 4-credit skill-enhancement course(s) over and above the 80 credits earned for completing level 5. ii. Students shall be allowed to join back in the 3rd year at level 5.5 at a later stage before the expiry of the credits earned, subject to a maximum duration of seven years. The procedure for depositing and redemption of credits shall be as per the UGC (Establishment and Operation of Academic Bank of Credits in Higher Education) Regulations, 2021, as amended from time to time. 11.3 Undergraduate degree. - i. Students who have earned a total of 120 credits by completing level 5.5 of NCrF and exit from the undergraduate programme shall be awarded an undergraduate degree. ii. Students who have earned the required credits at level 5.5 of NCrF and exit from the undergraduate programme after 3 years can resume the 4th year undergraduate (Honours/Honours with Research) programme at a later stage before the expiry of the credits earned, subject to a maximum duration of seven years. The procedure for depositing and redemption of credits shall be as per the UGC (Establishment and Operation of Academic Bank of Credits in Higher Education) Regulations, 2021, as amended from time to time. 11.4 Undergraduate degree (Honours/Honours with Research). - i. Students who have earned the required credits at level 6 of NCrF shall be awarded an undergraduate (Honours/Honours with Research) degree. ii. Students who have earned the required credits for two majors shall be awarded an undergraduate degree with a double major/integrated UG degree. iii. The degree to be awarded shall be called the undergraduate degree in the respective discipline(s) in accordance with the nomenclature specified by the UGC under Section 22 (3) of the UGC Act. 11.5 Postgraduate Programme. - i. HEIs shall have the flexibility to offer postgraduate programmes with different durations viz. (a) a 2- year programme with an exit option at the end of the first year, (b) a 1-year programme, and (c) an integrated 5-year undergraduate/ postgraduate programme. ii. Students completing a 3-year undergraduate programme shall be eligible for a two-year postgraduate programme. iii. Students completing a 4-year undergraduate programme with Honours/Honours with Research shall be eligible for a one-year postgraduate programme. iv. Students completing a 4-year undergraduate degree (Hons./Hons. with Research) in relevant subjects (level 6, e.g. B.Sc. Hons. in Physics, B.Sc. Hons. in Biology, B.Sc. Hons. in Mathematics) and students completing a 4-year undergraduate degree (level 6, e.g. B.E., B. Tech., etc.) shall be eligible for the 2- year/4 semester postgraduate programme (level 7, e.g. M.E., M.Tech. etc.). V. Students who have earned a total of 40 credits by completing the first year (level 6) of two-year PG (level 6.5/7) of NCrF and, if exit, shall be awarded a postgraduate diploma. vi. A student with a 3-year undergraduate degree (level 5.5) who has earned required credits at level 6.5 of NCrF shall be awarded a 2-year postgraduate degree such as M.A., M.Com., M.Sc. etc., in accordance with the nomenclature specified by the UGC under Section 22 (3) of the UGC Act. vii. A student with a 4-year undergraduate degree (level 6) who has earned required credits at level 6.5 of NCrF shall be awarded a 1-year postgraduate degree such as M.A., M.Com., M.Sc. etc., in accordance with the nomenclature specified by the UGC under Section 22 (3) of the UGC Act. vili. A student with a 4-year undergraduate degree (level 6) who has earned the required credits at level 7 of NCrF shall be awarded a postgraduate degree such as M.E., M. Tech. etc., in accordance with the nomenclature specified by the UGC under Section 22 (3) of the UGC Act. 12.0 Recognition of Prior Learning. - Learnings achieved outside of formal learning or through learning and training in the workplace or in the community shall be based on the validation of prior learning outcomes achieved. Such individuals with experience and expertise in any particular profession shall be assessed by the recognized higher education institutions as per the UGC “Guidelines for Implementation of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in Higher Education, as amended from time to time. 13.0 Consequence of failure to comply with the Regulations. - If any HEI violates the provisions of these regulations, the Commission shall constitute an enquiry committee to look into the violations. If the violations are established by the enquiry committee set up by the Commission, the HEI shall be:- (a) Debarred from participating in UGC schemes. (b) Debarred from offering UG Certificate, UG Diploma and degree programmes. (c) Debarred from offering ODL and online mode programmes. (d) Removed from the list of HEIs maintained under Section 2(f) and 12B of UGC Act 1956. The HEI shall be subjected to one or more of the above actions. Further, UGC may take additional punitive actions as per the decision of the Commission on a case-to-case basis. Prof. MANISH R. JOSHI, Secy. [ADVT.III/4Exty./04/2025-26] (Annexure I) Award of Accelerated and Extended Degrees by Higher Education Institutions The National Credit Framework (NCrF) enables learners with varying learning abilities to move through the curriculum at rates faster or slower than the standard duration of a programme by earning the required credits. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) may provide Accelerated Degree Programme (ADP) and Extended Degree Programme (EDP) in addition to degree programmes with standard duration after evaluating the student's request for admission to a programme with a standard duration. These instructions will guide Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the academic content, credits, assessment methods and degree awarding while implementing extended and accelerated degrees. • HEIs may earmark up to 10% of sanctioned intake for ADP. • HEIs may constitute a committee to scrutinize applications received at the end of the first or the second semester under EDP and ADP and select students accordingly. • The Committee constituted by the HEI will evaluate the credit-completing potential of a student based on their performance in the first or the second semester and give its recommendations. • The Committee shall recommend a reduction or an increase in the number of courses and total credits per semester, as per the duration opted by the students. • Under the ADP and EDP, the transcripts should record only the courses the students take in a semester. Accelerated degree programme (ADP). - • Accelerated degree programmes shall be applicable only at the undergraduate level. • In the ADP, students will follow the same curriculum content and total credits prescribed for the programme for a standard duration. The only change will be in the duration of the programme. Students shall have the option to choose ADP either at the end of the first semester or the second semester and not beyond that. Students opting for the ADP will earn additional credits per semester starting from the second or third semester, depending on when they transition to the ADP. If they join the ADP after the first semester, they will begin earning extra credits from the second semester onward. Similarly, if they join the ADP after the second semester, the additional credit load will start from the third semester onward. • In a 3-year undergraduate programme, students can shorten the duration by a maximum of one semester, e.g. students can earn the total credits needed for a 3-year undergraduate programme in five semesters. Similarly, in a 4-year undergraduate programme, students can shorten the duration by one semester or a maximum of two semesters, e.g. students can earn the total credits required for a 4-year undergraduate programme in six or seven semesters. Based on the credit structure in the "Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programmes", the Committee shall decide the minimum number of credits a student must earn in a semester in ADP. Extended Degree Programme (EDP). - • Extended degree programmes shall be applicable for undergraduate programmes only. • In the EDP, students will follow the same curriculum content and total credits prescribed for the programme for a standard duration. The only change will be in the duration of the programme. Students shall have the option to choose EDP either at the end of the first semester or the second semester and not beyond that. Accordingly, students who opt for EDP will earn fewer credits every semester than those required in a programme with a standard duration. • In a 3-year or 4-year undergraduate programme, the duration may be extended up to a maximum of two semesters. Accordingly, students can earn fewer credits in each semester. Based on the credit structure in the "Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programmes", the Committee shall decide the minimum number of credits a student must earn in a semester in EDP. Examination and Evaluation Process. - • The examination and evaluation system will remain the same as the programme with a standard duration. Award of degrees. - • HEIs may issue degrees for students on completion of the programme in the opted duration (shortened or extended duration) and need not wait to complete the standard duration for the award of the formal degree. • For the accelerated and extended degrees, a self-contained note should be added in the degree stating that the academic requirements required in a standard duration have been completed in a shortened or extended duration. For an ADP of 4-year undergraduate programme, the note should specify that the student completed the academic requirements of a 4-year programme in six or seven semesters, as the case may be. • Government departments, private organizations, and recruiting agencies like UPSC/State Service Commission, etc., should treat the degrees from ADP and EDP on par with degrees with standard duration.