The University Grants Commission (UGC) is considering the possibility of introducing a centralized counseling system for undergraduate admissions based on CUET scores, similar to medical and engineering courses, sources revealed.

A committee comprising officials from various universities has been established by the UGC to explore this concept, with five prestigious universities selected for a trial run. However, there is uncertainty regarding the timeline for implementation pending the committee’s assessment of feasibility.

According to a source, the proposed system would streamline the admissions process by providing a single platform for students to submit their preferences, eliminating the need for separate applications to multiple universities.

UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar declined to provide further details on the matter.

Previously, the commission had considered integrating the engineering entrance exam JEE and medical entrance NEET with the Common University Entrance Test-Undergraduate (CUET-UG), introduced in 2022. However, no progress has been made on this front.

With over 14.9 lakh registrations, CUET has become the second-largest entrance exam in the country, surpassing JEE-Main’s average registration of nine lakh. NEET-UG remains the largest entrance test in India, with an average of 18 lakh registrations. JEE-Mains is conducted online twice a year, while NEET is a pen-and-paper exam.

This year, the NEET-UG exam is scheduled to take place from May 15 to 31.

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