UGC Urges Universities To Allow Writing Exam In Local Languages Even If Course Is In English Medium

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked universities to allow students to write exams in local languages.

UGC asks universities to allow writing exam in local languages.

New Delhi: The University Grants Commission has asked universities to permit students to take exams in local languages, regardless of whether the course is taught in English medium. UGC believes that higher education institutions have a critical role in creating textbooks and facilitating the learning process in the mother tongue or local languages, as reported by PTI.

The commission stressed that it is necessary to strengthen these efforts and "promote such initiatives as writing textbooks in the mother tongue/local languages and encouraging their use in teaching, including translating standard books from other languages".

The Commission made a request to allow students in universities to write their exam answers in local languages, regardless of whether the program is taught in English medium. It also urged universities to promote the translation of original writing in local languages and encourage the use of local languages in the teaching-learning process.

Students To Earn Credits For Knowing Vedas, Puranas

Students can earn additional credits by studying ancient Indian texts such as Vedas and Puranas, said the final report of the National Credit Framework (NCrF) released by the University Grants Commission. Under the newly introduced National Credit Framework (NCrF), special expertise and knowledge in the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) can now be considered for credits on par with other fields such as games, sports, performing arts, traditional skills, heritage craftsmen, and social work. 

The NCrF aims to incorporate learning from multiple sources, including academic, vocational, and experiential learning, which can be "creditized" and accumulated under the framework, regardless of whether it is obtained through online, digital, or blended learning.

The National Credit Framework (NCrF) includes a range of 18 theoretical disciplines called 'vidyas' and 64 applied sciences or vocational disciplines and crafts known as 'kalas.' These disciplines are eligible for credit accumulation under the new framework.