Finally, PU gives nod to 'branch sliding'

The engineering students admitted from this academic session at various engineering institutes of Panjab University have something to cheer about. Next year on, undergraduate students will be allowed to change their streams at the end of their first year.

'Branch sliding' has been a longstanding demand of several student bodies. Several institutes across the country, including PEC University of Technology and various IITs, already allow students to change their streams after their first year.

According to its latest circular, PU has stated that the facility will only be offered in institutes that have common subjects in the first year. Additionally, this mobility has only been permitted within institutes.

This option has been extended only to first year students. Students must secure at least 9 CGPA, with no 'reappears', to be eligible for the provision, said the notice sent out to engineering institutes.

"In the case of a tie in CGPA, the student who had a better JEE-main ranking would be given the preference," said the circular.

The circular implies that those who have secured admission under the reserved category candidates would have to compete with general category candidates for the facility.

However, students admitted under the NRI quota will not be offered this facility.

Students seeking a change of their stream will have to approach the head of the institute after the declaration of second semester results. Students must list out their preferred streams in the prescribed format, following which a merit list will be drawn up by the institute.

Moreover, institutes have directed to allow the facility even while ensuring the mandated class strength. For this, PU has limited the outflow of students from a branch to 10%.

"The flow of students into a branch cannot increase the strength of a class beyond the normal sanctioned intake. Also outflow from a class would not be allowed to decrease its existing strength by more than 10%," the order says (sic).

Key points

Branch sliding facility would be allowed only within same institute students admitted to NRI quota will not be given the benefit students must secure at least 9 CGPA, without any reappears.

Class strength should be maintained. PU limits this facility to only 10% students of a class.