The University Grants Commission (UGC) has recommended the higher educational institutions to treat the newly-introduced CBSE subject ‘Applied Mathematics’ at par with Mathematics for admission to undergraduate courses in humanities and commerce.
“Applied Mathematics may be considered at par with Mathematics while calculating aggregate marks for admission in courses of humanities and commerce, other than pure sciences,” said UGC Secretary Rajnish Jain, in his letter to the vice chancellors.
The Central Board of Secondary Education or CBSE has introduced Applied Mathematics as an academic elective subject for the students of Classes 11 and 12. The subject includes 80% marks for theory and 20% marks for practicals in the board examination. Applied Mathematics is offered under the academic stream and has curriculum specifications which are compatible with other major subjects. Therefore, as a regular academic subject, it can conveniently be included for calculating the aggregate marks while deciding the eligibility for admissions to UGC affiliated colleges.
Why This Directive?
This UGC directive comes after a complaint by CBSE in February 2021 against the universities making it mandatory for students to choose Mathematics at the senior secondary level to take admission in undergraduate courses in Economics, Commerce, and Social Sciences. CBSE also pointed out to the UGC that Applied Mathematics was introduced primarily to enhance the mathematical skills and knowledge required these very fields i.e., – social science, humanities, commerce, accountancy, and other aligned fields.
Hence, the board requested the UGC to instruct the higher educational institutions to consider the new course at par with the existing Mathematics course during the UG admissions to courses other than Engineering, Mathematics, and Physical Sciences.
