UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Statements A and C correctly summarise key features of institutional restructuring under NEP 2020. Statement A is true because NEP 2020 classifies higher education institutions into research-intensive universities, teaching-intensive universities and degree-granting colleges. Statement C is also true as the policy emphasises that all types should become large multidisciplinary institutions over time. Statement B is false because NEP 2020 explicitly proposes phasing out the traditional affiliating system. Statement D is false since the policy actually promotes greater academic, administrative and financial autonomy. Hence, the combination A and C only is correct.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it includes the two statements that align with NEP 2020’s vision of institutional types and multidisciplinary evolution, while rejecting B and D, which contradict the policy’s restructuring and autonomy goals.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it includes B, which wrongly asserts that affiliating universities will remain unchanged, despite NEP 2020’s plan to move away from this model.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it pairs C and D and omits A, thereby accepting D’s false claim that autonomy is rejected and failing to mention the threefold institutional classification.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it groups A, C and D, and therefore accepts D’s misrepresentation of NEP’s stance on autonomy, which undermines the accuracy of the combination.

An autonomous college enjoys substantial academic freedom even while remaining within the framework of an affiliating university. It can design its own syllabi, adopt innovative teaching methods and structure internal assessments independently. It also conducts its own examinations and publishes results, with the parent university mainly conferring the final degree. Hence, the description in the stem matches only an autonomous college.

Option A:
An affiliated college without autonomy must strictly follow the curriculum, examination scheme and calendar prescribed by the university. It cannot freely innovate in assessment or course design to the extent described in the stem. Therefore, the term “affiliated” alone does not capture the level of academic freedom mentioned and is not the correct completion.

Option B:
A constituent college is directly governed and funded by the university, focusing more on administrative control than academic independence. Such colleges may still be bound by common syllabi and examination rules set by the university. Thus, “constituent” does not automatically imply the freedom to design curriculum and conduct examinations as stated in the question.

Option C:
An autonomous college is formally granted academic autonomy by the university and regulatory bodies after demonstrating quality and capacity. This status allows it to innovate in curriculum, testing patterns and evaluation processes while the university awards the degree. Because the stem lists all these powers, “autonomous” accurately completes the statement and is the most appropriate option.

Option D:
An evening college is defined mainly by the timing of classes, which are held after regular working hours for the convenience of learners. It may or may not enjoy any special academic freedom and usually follows the same syllabus and examination pattern as day colleges. Therefore, the term “evening” does not address the academic autonomy described in the stem and is not a suitable answer.

The question asks for the wrong statement(s). Statements A, B and C correctly describe the affiliating model and NEP 2020’s reform directions: A notes the traditional structure, B reflects the goal of converting colleges into degree-granting or constituent units, and C states that the affiliating system is to be gradually phased out. Statement D is wrong because it directly contradicts the policy by claiming that all colleges must remain permanently affiliated and cannot become autonomous. Thus, D alone is the wrong statement.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it treats A and B as wrong, whereas both statements reflect accepted descriptions of the existing affiliating framework and the reform path proposed in NEP 2020. Selecting this option would misidentify correct statements as incorrect.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it groups C and D together as wrong. C is actually correct in describing the phasing out of the affiliating model, so pairing it with the genuinely wrong D produces a mixed and invalid combination.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it suggests that both A and D are wrong. In fact, A accurately summarises the affiliating system, while only D misrepresents NEP 2020’s vision; including A as wrong undermines the basic understanding of the present structure.

Option D:
Option D is correct because it isolates D, the only statement that contradicts NEP 2020 by insisting on permanent affiliation and denying the move towards autonomous, degree-granting institutions.

Autonomous colleges are recognised by regulatory bodies like UGC for their strong academic performance and are granted autonomy over curriculum, examination and assessment. They still remain affiliated to a parent university but can design and implement their own syllabi and evaluation systems. The stem mentions all of these powers, which are characteristic of autonomous status. Therefore, Option C correctly completes the sentence.

Option A:
Affiliated colleges follow the curriculum and examination systems of the parent university and do not have full freedom over these aspects. They lack the level of academic autonomy described in the question, so Option A is incorrect.

Option B:
Constituent colleges are directly run and maintained by the university and may or may not have academic autonomy, but the term does not automatically imply the specific powers listed in the stem. Thus, Option B is not precise enough for this context.

Option C:
“Autonomous” is the formal status given to colleges empowered to frame curriculum, conduct exams, and declare results (within the affiliating framework), so it matches the stem exactly.

Option D:
The term “evening” refers only to when classes are scheduled and does not convey any special status in terms of academic self-governance. An evening college might have very rigid dependence on the parent university’s syllabi and examination system. Therefore, this label cannot substitute for the notion of autonomy described in the stem and is not the correct choice.

Statements A, B and C correctly describe NEP 2020 institutional types. The policy speaks of research-intensive universities, teaching-intensive multidisciplinary institutions and autonomous degree-granting colleges as the three broad categories. It does not freeze institutions into single-stream teaching-only roles, and it allows evolution from one type to another as quality improves. Statements D, E and F distort the policy by denying multidisciplinary flexibility and integration of teacher education with the overall system.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it leaves out statement C, so it does not acknowledge autonomous degree-granting colleges as a distinct institutional type envisaged by NEP 2020. This makes the description of the new institutional structure incomplete.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it includes A and C but omits B, thereby not explicitly recognising teaching-intensive multidisciplinary institutions, which are a major category in NEP 2020.

Option C:
Option C is correct since it includes A, B and C, the three true statements about institutional types, and excludes D, E and F, which incorrectly portray NEP as enforcing single-stream colleges and permanent separations.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it treats D as part of the correct set even though D wrongly claims that all institutions must remain single-stream teaching colleges, which contradicts the multidisciplinary thrust of NEP 2020.

Statements A, B and D accurately capture autonomy and governance reforms for colleges. A is true because academic autonomy allows colleges to tailor curricula and evaluations within regulatory frameworks. B is correct since autonomy is intended to foster innovation suited to local and regional needs. D is also true as NEP 2020 explicitly proposes graded autonomy and the evolution of colleges into degree-granting institutions. Statement C is false because autonomous colleges remain subject to accreditation and regulatory oversight. Thus, A, B and D only form the correct combination.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it gathers all the true statements about the goals and policy direction of college autonomy and excludes C, which wrongly suggests complete regulatory exemption. It reflects both flexibility and accountability.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it lists only A and B and omits D, thereby ignoring the explicit policy push in NEP 2020 towards graded autonomy. Without D, the policy context is incomplete.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it combines B and D only and leaves out A, which explains how academic autonomy operates in practice through curriculum and evaluation design.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it treats all four statements as correct, thereby accepting C’s claim that autonomy removes accreditation and regulatory review. This contradicts the principle of autonomous yet accountable institutions.