Recognise CBSE's 13 new subjects: UGC tells varsities

Additional vocational or add-on subjects introduced by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will now get recognition at undergraduate level also.

The University Grant Commission (UGC) has directed all universities to recognise 13 new subjects introduced by the CBSE for Classes 11 and 12 and take appropriate steps to consider these subjects while admission to undergraduate courses.

In a circular issued by UGC deputy secretary Shakeel Ahmed, he had instructed the vice-chancellors of all universities to give appropriate consideration to these subjects during admission process at the undergraduate level.

He said the new subjects have a reflection in the subjects already being offered at educational institutes and should be accorded due consideration.

The new subjects introduced by the CBSE are knowledge tradition and practices of India, legal studies, human rights and gender studies, national cadet corps, heritage crafts, graphic design, creative writing and translation studies, functional English, entrepreneurship, biotechnology, fashion studies, mass media studies and theatre studies.

The UGC circular gave a reason to cheer to students, who earlier used to face difficulty in admission at undergraduate level because only core subjects were given due consideration.

Welcoming the UGC step, Harmeet Kaur Wairach, principal of Nankana Sahib Public School and chairman of Ludhiana Sahodaya School Complex, said, "The new subjects are rigorous in nature and designed keeping in mind the industry and employability avenues."

Principal of BCM Arya Model School Paramjit Kaur said, "Vocational courses are need of the hour. We need to make students learn subjects that can bring easy employment or help them start as an entrepreneur. It is high time and the higher educational institutes should also upgrade them and include such courses in their curriculum."

Paramjit said, "I have written a letter to the Punjab Agricultural University vice-chancellor, requesting him to start an undergraduate course in the mass media and journalism, though the PAU is already offering postgraduate course in the subject."

Paramjit said if a student wanted to do graduation in mass media and journalism then he or she had to go to other cities as our own university was not offering the course. She said Panjab University-affiliated colleges should also include vocational course at undergraduate level.