Academic certificate not necessary while submission of admission forms: Javadekar

New Delhi: A new notification being issued by University Grants Commission (UGC) will help students in getting admission in higher institutions without submitting original academic and personal certificate at the time of submission of admission forms, Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Wednesday.

The Minister said the students would also be able to get the fees paid as refund if they opt out of the programme.

"From the next academic session, it will become mandatory for students to submit self-attested academic credentials along with admission form," Javadekar said while briefing media about the new notification.

At the time of admission, the college will verify the original marksheet but will return the original document to the student. As per the new notification, 100 per cent fees would be returned in case a student decides to withdraw within 15 days of the notified last date of admission.

"Not more than 5 per cent of the fees paid by the student, subject to a maximum of Rs 5,000 would be deducted as processing fee," Javadekar said.

Within 15 days before the last date, the refund would 90 per cent, within 15 days after the last date of admission, it would be 80 per cent and between 16 and 30 days after the due date, the refund would be 50 per cent.

However, no fees would be returned if a student withdraws after 30 days of the notified last date of admission. The refund has to be made within 15 days of receipt of written application from the student, Javadekar said.

If the institute fails to refund the fee, strict punitive action will be taken by the UGC against defaulting higher education institutions. The notification shall be applicable to undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes run by universities and deemed universities.