Uttar Pradesh: Uniform exam fee for UG courses at universities

LUCKNOW: In a relief to lakhs of students aspiring for higher education in UP, the government has formulated a uniform examination fee structure for state universities. The move will end disparity in the examination fee structure for undergraduate courses.
The department of higher education in an order issued on July 11 announced that all state universities will charge Rs 800 as examination fee per semester for 10 UG courses: BA, BSc, BCom, BBA, BCA, BEd, BJMC, BFA, BPEd, and BVoc.
The examination fee for six courses: LLB, BTech, BSc Agriculture (Hons), Law Hons, BSc biotech and BLib is fixed at Rs 1,000 per semester.
Similarly, the examination fee for dental and nursing courses, BAMS/BUMS is fixed at Rs 1,500 per semester. The uniform fee structure will be implemented from the current academic year.
The decision came following proposals from universities seeking a hike in examination fee after the semester system was introduced in accordance with the National Education Policy.
The order from special secretary, higher education, Manoj Singh said that with the semester system in place, universities will have to conduct the exam twice a year leading to doubling of expenditure incurred on printing of question papers and answer booklets, evaluation, honorarium to examiners, flying squad, and publication of results.
For universities, the biggest source of income is examination fee from students. Keeping this in mind, the six-member committee while examining the proposals for fee hike found variations in the examination fee charged for various UG and PG courses by different state universities.
“It is irrational to charge different amounts from students towards a common head. Therefore, a uniform fee structure has been fixed,” read the order.
UP has 19 universities, excluding medical ones. Before semester system, examination fee was charged annually and ranged from Rs 800-3,000. Now, all universities will charge the same examination fee for a course.