NEP 2020: Mumbai University Students Voice Syllabi Dilution, Exam Issues
4 October 2026 | The Times of India
MUMBAI: Inadequate hours for mandatory training, withheld completion certificates and hurdles in transferring academic credits are among the concerns students have raised about the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, questioning whether its promise of flexibility is translating into practice.
The Bombay University College Teachers' Union (BUCTU) compiled the feedback after interactive sessions at 10 diverse colleges affiliated to Mumbai University.
The students flagged diluted syllabi, a growing load of ancillary subjects and examination pressures, alongside difficulties changing colleges, disciplines or major subjects. Students undergoing mandatory on-the-job training (OJT) said the duration offered by employers was often insufficient to complete the prescribed hours.
Some received "no stipend", while others alleged that companies withheld completion certificates if they "failed to meet marketing targets".
"Students have further questioned the arrangement of mandatory OJT, arguing that if it is compulsory, universities and colleges should take greater responsibility for facilitating placements and ensuring that students receive the required hours and certification," said BUCTU's Madhu Paranjpe.
Students unable to fulfil the prescribed OJT hours could fail and have to appear for ATKT examinations, she added. The Academic Bank of Credits (ABC), intended to support flexible learning, has also "fallen short of students' expectations," said BUCTU's Tapati Mukhopadhyay.