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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Sanjay Raut demands re-election, alleges irregularities in EVMs during Maharashtra polls
Mumbai, Nov 25: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday demanded a re-election in Maharashtra using ballot papers, claiming there were irregularities with the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Talking to reporters, Raut alleged several complaints about EVMs malfunctioning and questioned the integrity of the recently held elections.
The BJP-led Mahayuti won 230 out of 288 seats in the assembly elections, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi managed 46 seats, with Shiv Sena (UBT) winning just 20 out of 95 seats it contested.
"We have received nearly 450 complaints regarding EVMs. Despite raising objections repeatedly, no action has been taken on these issues. How can we say these elections were conducted fairly? Hence, I demand that the results be set aside and elections be held again using ballot papers," Raut said.
Citing some instances, he said a candidate in Nashik reportedly received only four votes despite having 65 votes from his family, while in Dombivli, discrepancies were found in EVM tallies, and election officials refused to acknowledge the objections.
The Sena (UBT) leader also questioned the credibility of the landslide victories of some candidates, saying, "What revolutionary work have they done to receive more than 1.5 lakh votes? Even leaders who recently switched parties have become MLAs. This raises suspicions. For the first time, a senior leader like Sharad Pawar has expressed doubts about EVMs, which cannot be ignored."
Asked about the MVA's poor performance in the elections, Raut rejected the idea of blaming a single individual.
"We fought as a united MVA. Even a leader like Sharad Pawar, who commands immense respect in Maharashtra, faced defeat. This shows that we need to analyse the reasons behind the failure. One of the reasons is EVM irregularities and the misuse of the system, unconstitutional practices, and even judicial decisions left unresolved by Justice Chandrachud," he said.
Raut stressed that though internal differences might have existed within the MVA, the failure was collective.
He also accused the Mahayuti of conducting the elections in an unfair manner.
"I cannot call the elections fair given the numerous reports of discrepancies in EVMs, mismatched numbers, and vote irregularities across the state," Raut said.
