ABVP urges centralised CUET and increased scholarships for students

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has urged the University Grants Commission (UGC) to centralise the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) and address key issues in higher education. Their demands include increased fellowship amounts, streamlined admissions, and reforms to curb commercialisation in universities.

In Short

• ABVP demands higher education reforms in India
• Concerns raised about commercialisation in private universities
• Key issues include stagnant fellowship amounts and CUET centralisation

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has called for significant reforms in higher education, including the centralisation of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) and an increase in fellowship amounts. In a memorandum submitted to University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor M. Jagadesh Kumar on Monday, ABVP highlighted several issues affecting students and universities, urging swift action to address these concerns.

Key demands included raising the Non-NET Fellowship amount, which has remained stagnant at Rs 8,000 since 2011, and extending it to state universities. ABVP also requested an extension for the deadline to upload certificates on the UGC Fellowship Portal and proposed a substantial increase in scholarships to align with the growing Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education.

The memorandum emphasised the need for a centralised CUET for university admissions with uniform application fees. ABVP further called for regularising academic calendars across undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD programmes, while addressing rising application fees for entrance exams.

Expressing concerns about commercialisation and corruption in private universities, ABVP proposed introducing central legislation to prevent monopolistic practices. The organisation also demanded a halt to frequent tuition fee hikes by central universities and urged the rollback of financial autonomy policies enacted under the pretext of "graded autonomy."

ABVP advocated for direct elections for student unions and proposed a National Students' Union Act to streamline election processes and ensure representation in university councils. They also highlighted the urgency of addressing campus issues like violence, harassment, and substance abuse.

The delegation requested that the Ministry of Education expedite the appointment of vacant Vice-Chancellor and full-time Registrar positions to improve administrative efficiency.

Responding to the memorandum, UGC assured ABVP of swift action and recognised the demands as student-centric. The Commission pledged to increase the number of fellowships, simplify administrative procedures, strengthen the CUET process, and implement a uniform admission process soon.

ABVP National General Secretary Virendra Singh Solanki emphasised the need for immediate reforms to create a supportive academic environment for students. He urged the government and educational stakeholders to prioritise these issues and safeguard the academic future of the nation's youth.

(With ANI inputs)