Indore University Overhauls First-Year Examination System
Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya in Indore has implemented a completely revised examination pattern for undergraduate first-year students. This significant change directly impacts how students study, plan their schedules, and ultimately perform in their assessments.
Foundation Courses Streamlined
The new structure reduces foundation courses to just two subjects: Hindi and English. In a departure from previous years, these two papers will no longer be conducted on the same day. Each subject now gets its own separate examination day, with each paper lasting two full hours.
The university has discontinued the earlier system of one-hour objective tests conducted together on OMR sheets. Students will now face comprehensive theory papers for both Hindi and English. Many educators believe this shift allows students better expression of their knowledge, though it also demands more thorough preparation.
"I think two hours is fair. One hour was too rushed, especially when both papers were on the same day," shared a first-year BCom student, capturing a common sentiment across the campus.
Increased Paper Count Under NEP
Another major change involves the total number of examination papers. Undergraduate first-year students across all streams including BA, BCom, and BSc will now appear for 10 papers instead of the previous nine.
This increase follows the implementation of new academic requirements under the National Education Policy. The policy has expanded subject choices and modified credit structures significantly. During the admission process, students were required to select three major subjects instead of two, along with two minor subjects.
Additionally, the university made a vocational subject and a value-added course compulsory for all students. The earlier open elective system has been replaced with a multidisciplinary course requirement.
Transition Challenges and Solutions
The transition to this new system hasn't been completely smooth for everyone. Hundreds of students reportedly selected multidisciplinary course subjects from their own faculty instead of choosing from a different discipline. This technical error made them initially ineligible under the new guidelines.
DAVV examination controller Dr Ashesh Tiwari addressed the issue related to wrong subject selection under the Multidisciplinary Course. He clarified that students who chose incorrect MDC subjects will still be permitted to appear in their first-year examinations.
"Necessary corrections in MDC choices will be made from the second year onwards," Dr Tiwari stated, ensuring that no student faces difficulties during the current examination cycle.
Looking Forward
With the official exam pattern notification expected within the coming week, students across Indore's premier university are hopeful that these changes will lead to a fairer and less stressful assessment process. The revised system aims to align with national educational standards while addressing practical concerns raised by both students and faculty members.
The university administration emphasizes that these modifications represent a necessary evolution in higher education assessment, designed to better evaluate student learning while accommodating the expanded curriculum requirements of modern undergraduate programs.
