Introduction to Biannual Admissions

Universities will offer two admission cycles beginning with the academic session of 2024–25: one in July–August and another in January–February. This modification, which reflects the procedures of many overseas colleges, is intended to help students who may not have made it to the first round of admissions for a variety of reasons, including postponed board results, health problems, or personal situations.

Benefits for Students and Institutions

By cutting down on the enrollment wait time, biennial admissions, claims Kumar, would be very beneficial to students. Students who missed the July–August entrance cycle used to have to wait a whole year to reapply. The new method allows them to keep their drive and momentum going by securing admission in January or February.

Enhancing Institutional Efficiency

The head of UGC emphasized that HEIs would be able to better organize and use their resources—faculty, labs, classrooms, and support services—with biennial admittance. Universities should benefit operationally from this simplified strategy, which should also guarantee better use of available resources.

Global Competitiveness and Collaboration

Offering biennial admissions is not required, the UGC has made very clear. Universities may decide to use this system depending on their requirements and capabilities provided they have the required infrastructure and faculty. This freedom spares universities from having to raise their student body or launch new programs in developing fields.

Flexibility and Non-Mandatory Implementation

Biannual admissions will require HEIs to concentrate on administrative details and careful preparation to guarantee a seamless transition. This entails training staff and teachers, changing institutional rules, and offering smooth support systems to students accepted at various periods of the year.

Implementation and Planning

Biannual admissions will require HEIs to concentrate on administrative details and careful preparation to guarantee a seamless transition. This entails training staff and teachers, changing institutional rules, and offering smooth support systems to students accepted at various periods of the year.

Trials and Success with ODL and Online Programs

The success of comparable procedures in online and Open and Distance Learning (ODL) programs informed the decision to permit biannual admissions. The fact that almost half a million more students were able to register via these channels shows the possible advantages of biannual admissions.

Impact on Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER)

Biannual admissions should raise the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education. To increase the total number of students pursuing higher education in India, the strategy seeks to provide more chances for students to enrol.

Adapting Entrance Exams

The UGC recommends twice-yearly admission tests for programs that need them, like PhD and postgraduate degrees. Students would have greater freedom and the admission procedures would be much more in line with the biennial calendar. For example, institutions may already start admitting PhD candidates biannually based on the UGC-NET results, which are currently administered twice a year.

Conclusion

Designed to monitor the freshness of seafood in real-time by responding to pH changes, the film offers a practical solution for improving food safety and reducing waste.

This film detects the release of volatile amines, compounds typically associated with spoilage, and indicates food quality through visible color changes, say sources from NIT Rourkela.

These natural components make the film biodegradable, safe, and responsive, aligning with sustainability goals and offering a non-invasive way to assess seafood freshness.

Findings

The findings of this research have been published in the journal Food Packaging and Shelf Life in a paper co-authored by Prof. Preetam Sarkar (as the lead corresponding author), along with his research scholars, Mr. Rahul Thakur, Miss Harshi Singhi, Mr. Vedsagar Rajesh Suryavanshi, and Dr. Ravichandran Santhosh.

Other co-authors in this work include Dr. Khalid Gul from NIT Rourkela, Dr. Swarup Roy from Lovely Professional University, Dr. Srinivas Janaswamy from South Dakota State University, Brookings, USA and Dr. Kirtiraj K. Gaikwad from IIT Roorkee.

Fishing

India is the world’s second-largest fish-producing nation, contributing approximately 8% of global fish production, say NIT Rourkela researchers.

It also holds the distinction of being the top five producer of shrimp globally, with frozen shrimp being the top export commodity.

Given the scale and importance of seafood production, innovations that ensure freshness and reduce spoilage are of immense value, say NIT Rourkela researchers.

In this context, intelligent packaging systems, which preserve food while monitoring its quality, are rapidly gaining global interest.

Unlike conventional packaging that serves merely as a protective barrier, the intelligent packaging film developed by NIT Rourkela team offers visual cues about the product’s condition, making it a promising solution for enhancing food safety and reducing waste.

The beetroot peel extract was prepared separately, and then combined with the starch, gum tragacanth, and a small amount of glycerol to cast the films.

These were dried and tested for their pH-sensitivity and effectiveness in monitoring seafood freshness, said Prof Preetam of NIT Rourkela.

Pigments

Beetroot peels contain betalains, a group of pigments known for their bright colours and pH sensitivity, say NIT Rourkela researchers.

These pigments also offer antioxidant and antimicrobial benefits, making them suitable for food-related applications.

Incorporating these natural compounds into the starch-based film creates a biodegradable, safe, and responsive packaging material.

When the seafood begins to spoil and pH levels rise, the film changes colour, providing a clear visual indicator of freshness.

Starch

The choice of Kodo millet starch and gum tragacanth contributes to the film’s biodegradable and eco-friendly profile.

Kodo millet is an underutilised grain with excellent film-forming properties, while gum tragacanth enhances the mechanical strength and flexibility of the material.

The researchers believe that using such agricultural by-products not only supports sustainability but also adds value to food processing waste, such as beetroot peels.

At the laboratory scale, the cost of producing the film was estimated approximately Rs. 900 per kilogram.

When scaled up for industrial production, the cost is projected to range between Rs. 400 and Rs. 600 per kilogram, making it a potentially viable option for commercial use.

Also Read – NIT Rourkela develops great AI powered model