Lumami: Nagaland University, the only Central University in the state, will introduce a new undergraduate program in Basic Sciences starting from the academic year 2025-26. Additionally, the university plans to establish a Multidisciplinary Research Centre to expand offerings in Basic Sciences, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes the role of higher education in fostering human and societal well-being while advancing India’s democratic and just values.
Initially, the new center will offer three-year and four-year undergraduate programs in Botany, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, and Zoology.
In the coming years, the university also aims to introduce Integrated Postgraduate programs in these disciplines, Ph.D. programs in sciences and social sciences with a focus on multidisciplinary research, and Integrated Ph.D. (PG + Ph.D.) programs in sciences and social sciences with an emphasis on interdisciplinary studies.
Highlighting the significance of these programs, Prof. Jagadish K Patnaik, Vice Chancellor of Nagaland University, stated, “We aim to promote world-class research and training in Basic Sciences while removing rigid disciplinary boundaries. Our focus is on providing creative combinations of study disciplines that enable multiple entry and exit points, along with re-entry options.” He further emphasized that the ‘multiple entry and exit’ system will allow seamless student mobility across higher education institutions through a structured credit recognition, accumulation, transfer, and redemption system under the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) mechanism.
The undergraduate and integrated postgraduate programs will commence with an initial intake of 50 students across all disciplines in the 2025-26 academic year. Other key objectives include enabling students to accumulate and transfer credits, resume studies after breaks, and validate non-formal and informal learning for degree awards, thereby encouraging lifelong learning.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for admission to the undergraduate or integrated postgraduate programs, candidates must have secured a first-class (60%) in academics up to Class 12 or an equivalent examination. Additionally, applicants must possess a valid CUET (UG) scorecard in the relevant discipline before applying.
The Nagaland University undergraduate program is designed to equip students with expertise across arts, humanities, languages, natural sciences, and social sciences while fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and communication skills.
Students will also have the option to change their major within broad disciplines such as Natural and Physical Sciences, Mathematical, Statistical and Computational Sciences, Library and Information Sciences, Commerce and Management, and Humanities and Social Sciences at the end of their first year. Some of these options will be expanded in the future.
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