Over 2 Million Students Embrace India's Academic Bank of Credit: What This Means for Higher Education

The University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman, Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, recently announced that more than 2 million students across India have registered on the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) platform. This announcement was made during the western zone vice chancellor's conference at Maharaja Sayajirao University Baroda, Gujarat.

The ABC Initiative

The ABC is a digital repository that stores the credit records of each student, allowing for seamless academic mobility among higher educational institutes in India. It promotes curriculum flexibility and interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary academic mobility through a proper credit transfer method. Starting this year, a unique ABC ID has become mandatory for all students seeking admission to universities and institutions across the country.

The Importance of ABC

According to Kumar, the ABC platform is a crucial part of the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020). It enables students in undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses to exit and re-enter courses within a specified period. The platform also allows students to open an academic bank account with ABC to commute credits for awarding any degree, diploma, or certificate.

The Bigger Picture

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan praised the efforts of the western zone, particularly Gujarat, in leading the implementation process of NEP 2020. He revealed that more than 65 lakh students in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, and other western states are under central government educational institutions. These students constitute 15% of the total 4 million students who will benefit from NEP.

Future Prospects

The ABC platform aims to register all students and upload all their credentials and credit certificates. The initiative is seen as a significant step in implementing the reforms introduced by the UGC and is expected to have a transformative impact on higher education in India.