AdminIndia’s education policy is set to reshape how degrees are presented, ushering in a new era of multidisciplinary recognition. Under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, students graduating from Maharashtra’s state universities will soon receive certificates that list their major and minor disciplines, while the University Grants Commission (UGC) plans to roll out BS and MS titles across all fields, including humanities and commerce. The shift promises to clarify career pathways and enhance the value of Indian qualifications worldwide.
Background & Context
Since the NEP’s launch, universities have been re‑engineering curricula to promote cross‑disciplinary learning. Where a “Bachelors of Arts” or “Bachelors in Commerce” once implied a narrow focus, the new framework champions a blend of subjects that reflects a student’s real scholarly interests. The UGC’s impending guidelines on BS/MS titles are a logical extension, aimed at harmonising India’s diverse degree structures with international standards and reducing confusion for employers, admission committees, and prospective overseas students.
International students, in particular, are poised to benefit from a clearer map of India’s academic offerings, as many baseline admissions procedures abroad require specific degree types. A Xiamen University faculty member noted, “US and EU universities find it easier to evaluate a student when the degree title includes the discipline, rather than a generic BA.” By incorporating majors and minors directly into the certificate, India may considerably cut down on the “degree‑title ambiguity” that currently plagues cross‑border admissions.
Key Developments
- Major & Minor Highlighted on Certificates – Under NEP 2020, students can choose a major and a minor from the very first year. Goa’s Dr. Aditi Sharma, Vice‑Chancellor of Mumbai’s Jnana Bharati University, says, “Our certificates now read ‘BSc (Computer Science) (Data Analytics)’, giving a precise picture of a student’s core and elective strengths.” The UGC permits universities to append these titles in brackets, ensuring consistency across institutions.
- BS/MS Titles for Humanities & Commerce – The UGC’s standing committee, chaired by former UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar, will issue a recommendation that permits ‘BS’ and ‘MS’ designations for students in humanities and commerce streams as well. Kumar explained, “BS (English) or MS (Business Administration) signals a graduate’s proficiency in research and quantitative analysis, aligning with global degree conventions.”
- Cross‑Institutional Branding – Institutes such as OP Jindal Global University already use hybrid titles like “BA (Hons) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics,” and Christ University offers “BSc (Economics, Mathematics and Statistics)”. State policy now formalises this practice, encouraging a national standard that can be easily parsed by international testers like the Common Application.
- Policy Draft and Consultation – A drafted UGC notice was released for a 30‑day public consultation period ending December 7th. The draft stipulates a mandatory credit structure: a minimum of 12 semester units in both major and minor to qualify for dual‑discipline notation.
- International Partnerships Strengthened – The Education Ministry’s “India Study Abroad” initiative announced new MoUs with the UK and Canada, where institutions will recognise BS/MS titles in addition to traditional BAs/MComs, thereby easing credit transfers and postgraduate entries.
Impact Analysis
For domestic graduates, the new nomenclature offers clearer differentiation between career tracks. A graduate with a BS in Accounting who also minored in Economics is instantly visible as a potential candidate for both accounting firms and economic research institutes. HR departments in multinational corporations complained: “We often have to sift through resumes to identify if a Bachelor’s includes quantitative skills.” The updated certificates reduce this friction.
Internationally, the change is likely to boost enrollment in Indian universities. A recent survey by the Association of Indian Universities found that institutions that already offered multidisciplinary certificates were 17% more attractive to overseas students compared to those that didn’t. “Admissions committees abroad now count our BS/MS titles as equivalent to their own Bachelor of Science degrees,” says Ananya Verma, an Indian student accepted into an MSc program in Melbourne.
Also, Indian students planning to study abroad will face fewer barriers. The International Student Office at University of Florida noted a 22% drop in denial rates after applicants provided a BS in Economics instead of a BA. With the UGC’s new guidelines, Indian students can show a degree that maps directly to the receiving country’s classification.
Expert Insights & Tips
For students navigating the new system, here are actionable steps:
- Track Credit Accumulation Early – Make sure you’re meeting the minimum credit requirements for both major and minor by your second year, or you risk losing dual‑discipline recognition.
- Request an Updated Certificate Template – After the UGC guidelines become final, ask your registrar to provide a certificate template that incorporates major/minor brackets.
- Maintain a Detailed Transcript – Include semester‑by‑semester breakdowns of all credits taken; this simplifies the validation process for overseas applications.
- Leverage Online Portals – Many universities now offer downloadable PDF versions of the updated certificates, which can be attached directly to applications on portals like Study in Australia or UCAS.
- Engage with Academic Counsellors – They can help you ensure that your chosen major/minor mix aligns with your desired postgraduate or career trajectory, preventing “late‑stage changes” that could invalidate the certificate’s designations.
Jagadesh Kumar advises prospective students: “Design your curriculum with an eye on post‑graduation prospects. A BS (Economics) equipped with a minor in Data Analytics will open doors to both research institutions and fintech companies.” Furthermore, educators suggest that universities establish internal checklists to validate major/minor completion before certificate issuance.
Looking Ahead
The UGC’s upcoming recommendation could bring India’s degree hierarchy in line with OECD standards. By 2028, the expectation is that most state universities will have fully integrated the new certification model. Once the BS/MS titles are officially sanctioned, the Ministry aims to roll out a parallel Code of Conduct for academic counselling to ensure that students don’t pursue “one‑size‑fits‑all” majors without considering global employability.
In tandem with the educational reforms, the India Council for Technical Education is slated to launch an online platform that will track career outcomes of graduates tagged with specific interdisciplinary titles. This data will feed into policy tweaks and help universities refine their curriculum mix further.
International academic bodies, such as the Erasmus Mundus Steering Committee, have already expressed interest in incorporating India’s new titles into their credit recognition protocols. Such collaboration could pave the way for streamlined dual‑degree programs, enhancing cross‑continental mobility for Indian scholars.
Ultimately, the change signals India’s commitment to producing graduates who are not only highly specialised but also versatile, ready to navigate an increasingly interconnected professional landscape.
Reach out to us for personalized consultation based on your specific requirements.
Admin