UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

The General Education Council under the proposed HECI is envisaged to frame expected learning outcomes and broad curricular frameworks for higher education. Its role is to define what graduates should know and be able to do across disciplines. The stem indicates that this vertical is concerned with “setting,” which refers to curriculum and learning outcomes. Therefore, Option B accurately captures its core function.

Option A:
Infrastructure development is usually handled through funding agencies and institutional planning, not by an outcomes-oriented council. Hence, Option A does not fit the description of the General Education Council.

Option B:
Option B is correct because the General Education Council’s key mandate is to frame broad curricular frameworks and expected learning outcomes (i.e., standards for what graduates should learn).

Option C:
Hostel and mess charges are administrative and welfare issues that fall under institutional management, not under a national council for learning outcomes. Option C is therefore not appropriate.

Option D:
Sports quotas relate to admission or recruitment policies and are not the focus of a body tasked with defining academic outcomes and curricula. A sports quota is a mechanism to provide representation for students with sporting achievements, not to set academic standards. Therefore, Option D is incorrect.

The General Education Council is envisaged as a body that frames expected learning outcomes and broad curricular frameworks for higher education. It will articulate what graduates should know and be able to do across disciplines. The stem points to a council concerned with “setting,” which logically refers to curriculum and learning outcomes. Therefore, this option is correct.

Option A:
Curriculum and learning outcomes define the academic direction and standards for programmes. The GEC’s mandate to specify these provides coherence across institutions while allowing flexibility. This responsibility matches the description in the question.

Option B:
Hostel and mess charges are operational and welfare issues handled at the institutional level. They do not fall within the remit of a national academic council like GEC, so this option is inappropriate.

Option C:
Infrastructure norms are usually decided by regulatory and funding agencies or through separate regulations. They are not the primary focus of the General Education Council, making this option unsuitable.

Option D:
Alumni donations concern fund-raising and alumni relations, which are important but different from setting curricular and outcome standards. Hence, this option does not fit the stem.

Statements A and D correctly summarise key aspects of the HECI framework in NEP 2020. Statement A is true because NEP 2020 envisages HECI as an umbrella body with distinct verticals for regulation, accreditation, funding and academic standards. Statement D is also correct in assigning responsibility for academic standards and learning outcomes to a General Education Council. Statements B and C are false since NEP does not propose a single body for all examinations and affiliations, and it explicitly calls for restructuring existing regulatory bodies rather than leaving them unchanged.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it selects precisely those statements that reflect the broad structure proposed in NEP 2020. It acknowledges the multi-vertical design of HECI and the role of the General Education Council. By excluding B and C, it rejects overstated and inaccurate claims about centralised control and lack of restructuring.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it includes B as correct along with A and D. Statement B wrongly suggests that one body will handle all examinations, affiliations and accreditation, which is not what NEP 2020 proposes. Therefore this combination mixes true and false descriptions.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it accepts C, which claims that all existing regulators will remain unchanged. In fact, NEP 2020 proposes significant restructuring and consolidation of regulatory functions under HECI. Including this false statement invalidates the option.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it pairs A with C. While A is correct, C contradicts the reform spirit of NEP 2020 by denying any restructuring. Hence this combination cannot be considered accurate.