The Bihar government rejects the governor’s proposed 4-year undergraduate program

Plans to launch four-year bachelor’s degree programs seem to have run into a wall. In an earlier letter to the vice chancellors of the state institutions, the Bihar Education Department pleaded with them not to introduce four-year bachelor’s degree programs. Following Governor Rajendra Arlekar of Bihar’s directive to start the four-year bachelor’s degrees with honors in science, arts, and commerce, which would replace the state’s existing three-year graduation programs, this was done. However, the governor has now been asked by the state administration to rethink the choice.

According to The Indian Express, on June 15 KK Pathak, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Education, Bihar, sent a letter to Balendra Shukla, Officer on Special Duty (Judicial), Governor’s Secretariat, requesting that the Governor reconsider his decision to start a four-year graduation program using the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS).

As per UGC Regulation (Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programmes) for its introduction in the Universities of Bihar under relevant provisions of the Bihar State Universities Act, 1976, Patna Universities Act, 1976, and Nalanda Open Universities Act, 19 it appears that the Hon’ble Chancellor has been pleased to approve the Ordinance and Regulations for the Bachelor of Arts/Science/Commerce (Honors) 4-Year Programme under Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) Pathak also outlined a variety of difficulties state universities had while implementing the four-year graduate programs. He also emphasized the need of making the delay sessions more regular.

The extra chief secretary emphasized that it is important to analyze a university’s capacity to administer and successfully finish its current ongoing program before deciding whether to implement a new course.

The Ordinance and Regulations for the Bachelor of Arts/Science/Commerce (Honors) 4-Year programme under CBCS as per UGC Regulation has been authorized by the Governor, who also serves as the ex-officio chancellor of institutions. In April of this year, after a high-level meeting presided over by Governor Arlekar, a decision was made.

The letter from KK Pathak has not yet received a response from the governor’s office.The course structure for a four-year graduate program at various universities, including Delhi University, has been designed by the University Grant Commission (UGC).Eight semesters make up these courses. The completion of one year or two semesters would result in the students receiving a certificate.