The Assam cabinet on May 23 decided to implement the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, at higher education level from the next academic session.
According to the cabinet decision, the student will obtain a certificate for completion of two-semester in degree and postgraduate course, a diploma in completion of four semesters and a certificate in cp, completion of six semesters.
The existing choice based credit system (CBCS) has also been revised with NEP guidelines, state education minister Ranoj Pegu told reporters after the cabinet meeting.
Pegu said that the UG degree programmes will of three/ four years duration with multiple entries and exit points and re-entry options.
“A student will get a certificate after one year (two semesters), diploma after two years (four semesters), bachelor’s degree after three years (6 semesters0and Bachelor degree with honours after four years 8 sems),” Pegu said.
Pegu also said that students can also obtain a Bachelor’s degree in research after a four-year programme if he completes a rigorous research programme, Pegu also said.
The minister also said flexibility has been done in the design and duration of the Master’s Degree programme. A two-year Master’s Degree programme will be introduced with the second year devoted to research for students who have completed a three-year Bachelor’s Degree. One-year Master’s Degree will be introduced for students who have completed a four-year Bachelor’s Degree programme, he said.
In another major decision, the cabinet fixed the speed limit of various categories of vehicles on the state roads and highways inside the state following feedback received from the public and stakeholders.
“From now on, the speed for transport vehicles (with 8 passengers) was restricted to 100km/ hour while on 4 lane roads, 70km/hour on other roads and 60km/hour on municipal roads. Bigger passenger vehicles will have a speed limit of 80 km/ hour on 4lane highways, 70 km/ hour on state roads and 60 km/ hour on roads in municipal areas,” state minister Keshab Mahanta said.
Similarly, goods carrying vehicles were allowed to run at a speed of 70 km/ hour on 4 lane highways, 60 km/ hour on state roads and 40 km/ hour on municipal roads.
Two-wheelers would be allowed to ply at a maximum speed of 80 km/ hour on 4 lane highways followed by 60km/ hour on state roads and 50 km/ hour on municipal roads, the minister said.
The cabinet also approved Assam Millet Mission (AMM) over a period of seven years from 2022-23 fiscal to promote millet cultivation in the state.
The cabinet also approved the Assam elementary and Secondary School Teachers’ (Regulation of Posting and Transfer) Rules 2022 to rationalize the teacher transfer process.
This rule will facilitate intra-district, inter-district and mutual transfers of elementary, secondary, and SSA teachers as well as teachers in government educational institutes in online mode via a transfer portal.
The cabinet also approved the proposal for amending Assam Technical Education Service Rules, 1981 to empower the Assam Engineering Service Recruitment Board to discharge its duties.
It was informed that this will simplify the direct recruitment of cadres specified in the rules in technical institutions under higher education.
The cabinet also approved the proposal for amendment of Rule 9 of Assam Secretariat Subordinate Service, Rule 1963 to reduce the period of qualifying service from existing four years to 3 years for promotion of computer operator to senior grade computer operator.
It also approved the proposal for amendment of Rule 8(2) to reduce the period of qualifying service from existing four years to three years for promotion of senior grade computer operators to junior administrative assistants.