West Bengal announces 4-year UG courses for all govt and aided Institutions
On May 31, 2023, the West Bengal Government announced the introduction of a 4-year UG honors course in all government and aided institutions, starting from the academic year 2023-2024. The decision was made after consultations with various stakeholders and based on the recommendations of a state-appointed expert panel, as stated by the Higher Education Department.
The statement further highlighted that the competent authority in the State Government, taking into account the future of students, has decided to introduce the 4-year UG program in all Government/Government-aided/Government-sponsored Higher Education Institutions. The degrees awarded to students will be in accordance with the UGC’s National Curriculum and Credit Framework (NCCF) for UG level programs.
The process leading up to the introduction of the 4-year UG course involved the proposal being under consideration by the state government for some time. An expert committee was formed to examine the matter, and on January 31, it submitted a recommendation regarding the implementation of the NCCF.
The committee suggested that the 4-year course could be implemented by optimizing existing resources.