Major Changes in MP Higher Education: Twice a Year Admissions and Semester System
Preparations for Major Changes: Madhya Pradesh colleges and universities will soon offer admissions twice a year. Along with July/August, students will also be able to take admission in January/February. A seven-member committee formed by the higher education department has recommended this change, with the report now submitted to the state government.
The committee has suggested that the semester system be reintroduced in accordance with the National Education Policy 2020. This will provide students with an additional opportunity for admission, increasing the state’s Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER). Currently, admissions are only held in July/August, with 5 lakh admissions each year. Under the new system, the July session admission process must be completed by June 30, and the January session by December 31.
The committee was chaired by Dr. Bharat Sharan Singh, Chairman of the Madhya Pradesh Private University Regulatory Commission. After the committee's report, the department has asked all universities for feedback. The changes are expected to be implemented from January-February 2026.
Four Options Suggested by the Committee
- Option 1: The January-February admission system will be implemented in all government-private universities, UTDs (University Teaching Departments), all Prime Minister College of Excellence (PMCOE), and autonomous colleges where the semester system is already in place.
- Option 2: One additional college in each district should be identified for January session admissions. PMCOEs will be divided into two groups (Pool-A and Pool-B), with Pool-A starting in July and Pool-B in January.
- Option 3: Students who take admission in the January session will be required to complete 50% of their course credits online, reducing the burden on institutions and teachers.
- Option 4: Colleges that can operate in two shifts should be selected. For the second shift, separate teachers and staff will be appointed, and these colleges will receive additional resources and infrastructure as needed.
The final decision will be made by the Standing Committee and the Coordination Committee chaired by the Governor. If implemented, Madhya Pradesh will be the first state in India to offer admissions twice a year.
Pilot Project Proposal
The committee suggests that the new system should initially be implemented as a pilot project. In the first phase, it will be applied to government universities' academic departments (UTDs) and autonomous colleges. For UTDs, admissions will be available for UG and PG courses, while for colleges, it will be limited to PG admissions only.
Challenges and Solutions
Problem: Additional examination burden will be placed on universities.
Solution: More colleges should be made autonomous. These colleges should be given special status, and additional staff should be appointed or transferred from other colleges to balance the workload. E-content should be created at the state level for all courses to improve quality and reduce teacher shortages. Class-2, 3, and 4 staff should be recruited in colleges.
Semester System Introduced in 2008
The semester system was introduced in Madhya Pradesh in UG and PG courses in 2008-09. However, due to opposition from student organizations, the semester system was removed from UG courses in 2017-18. The system is still in place in the university campuses and three government autonomous colleges.