Karnataka State reverts to three-year degree course, cancels four-year course
Bengaluru: The Higher Education Department of Karnataka has recently made a significant decision to revert to the traditional three-year degree course, discontinuing the four-year degree program that was previously implemented. This decision comes following the recommendation of the State Education Policy (SEP) Commission.
Initially introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) during the tenure of the previous BJP government, the four-year degree program faced scrutiny under the new government led by the Congress party. Consequently, the SEP Commission was established to explore alternative educational frameworks tailored to the state's needs.
Led by Prof. Sukhadev Thorat, the SEP Commission engaged in extensive consultations with key stakeholders, including university officials, educators, and experts, over a period of three months. Based on these deliberations, the commission recommended discontinuing the four-year degree and reinstating the traditional three-year format.
Under the new directive, students who were admitted under the NEP within the last few years will have the option to pursue a fourth-year honours degree upon completing three years of study. The Education Department has instructed colleges to accommodate students' preferences and ensure necessary infrastructure is in place to facilitate this transition. In cases where the desired course is not available at their current institution, students will be offered admission in nearby colleges.
Furthermore, students admitted to undergraduate programs between 2021-22 and 2023-24 will have the opportunity to pursue an integrated master's degree upon completing a four-year honours program. Alternatively, those opting to complete a three-year degree can pursue a separate two-year postgraduate program, maintaining the flexibility of educational pathways.
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NEET student hangs self in Rajasthan's Sikar
Jaipur (PTI): A student preparing for the NEET examination allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a rented room in Rajasthan's Sikar on Friday, police said.
According to the police, the student allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf while one sister was attending coaching classes and the other was in the bathroom.
He had appeared in the NEET UG exam 2026, which was cancelled due to paper leak, they said.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said that the deceased, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu's Gudha Gaudji area.
He had been living in a rented room in Sikar's Jaldhari Nagar area with his two sisters while preparing for NEET over the last three years.
His elder sister later found him hanging and informed the landlord and police after bringing him down, officials said.
The SHO said the body was kept at SK Hospital mortuary, and a postmortem had not been conducted.
The student's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that Pradeep's NEET examination had gone well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks.
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot expressed grief over the incident and linked it to anxiety among students after reports of irregularities and paper leaks in NEET 2026.
Pilot said repeated paper leak incidents and cancellation of examinations were affecting students' mental health and demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible.
