Patna: A major setback has hit students from Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Extremely Backward Classes (EBC) in Bihar after the state government halted new admissions to career guidance centres that provide free coaching for the highly competitive University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET). The centres, operating within seven state universities, have been helping economically weaker students prepare for careers in teaching and research. The sudden suspension has created confusion among students who were expecting admissions to begin this month.
The order was communicated by the Director of the Bihar State Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation through an official letter sent to seven universities, including Patna University. According to the letter, universities have been instructed not to admit students for the current academic session without obtaining prior approval from the department. The letter also warned that if any institution proceeds with admissions without permission, it will bear full responsibility for the decision, including the financial burden of running the centre independently. The move has raised concerns among students and education activists who fear that the disruption may affect the academic future of many deserving candidates.
The career guidance centres were launched in 2022 across seven state universities to offer six-month coaching programmes for OBC and EBC students preparing for the UGC NET exam. Each session at these centres admitted up to 120 students, with classes usually beginning in June for the first session and December for the second. The admission process for the June batch generally starts in April. So far, 42 students trained through these centres have successfully cleared the UGC NET examination, making the programme one of the few targeted educational support schemes in the state. Before imposing the suspension, the department reportedly conducted an audit of the centres’ functioning, and Patna University has already submitted its report.
At present, 240 students are enrolled at the career guidance centre at Patna University alone, with the current batch of 120 students expected to complete their course in June. Similar situations exist at the other six universities: Patliputra University, Magadh University, Lalit Narayan Mithila University, Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University, B. N. Mandal University, and Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University. Except for Patna University, most centres admit around 100 students per session. The Department of Welfare for Backward Classes and Extremely Backward Classes reportedly provides around Rs 10 lakh per session to each centre to meet operational expenses.
Prof Kameshwar Pandit said the centres were created to support students who are financially weak and cannot afford private coaching for the UGC NET exam. He said regular classes have been conducted on the Patna University campus, but this year’s admission process has been stopped before it could begin in April. For many students hoping to secure a future in academia, the government’s decision has now cast a shadow over their plans.
