UGC Lists Steps for HEIs to Sign-up for Academic Bank of Credits

New Delhi, 16 May 2022: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has requested all colleges and universities to implement the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) on an urgent basis and listed down steps that need to be followed by the institutions. The commission, in association with the Ministry of Education, had introduced the University Grants Commission (Establishment and Operation of Academic Bank of Credits in Higher Education) Regulations on July 28, 2021.

Note: 

• As per National Education Policy 2020, the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) has been designed to facilitate the academic mobility of students with the freedom to study across Higher Education Institutions in the country with an appropriate “credit transfer” mechanism from one program to another, leading to the attainment of a Degree/Diploma/PG-diploma, etc.

• The Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) platform has been developed by the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) of the Ministry of Electronics and lnformation Technology (MeitY) under the DigiLocker framework, with the facility/functionality of opening academic accounts by the students and on-boarding of Higher Educational Institutions (HEls).

Academic Bank of Credits – Overview

Brief	Online centralized system Credit accumulation and redemption Credit audit trail management Credit accounting
Benefits	Enable student mobility Academic flexibility Allows students to choose their own learning path Recognized learning achievements
Key features	Multiple entries and multiple exits Allows students to study at their own pace Anytime anywhere learning Transparency
Important 3 A’s	Allocation:  It is the process of assigning a number of credits to qualifications, degree programs or single educational components.  Credits are allocated to entire qualifications or programs according to respective universities or autonomous institutions participating in the ABC scheme Accumulation: Through this, a student can accumulate credits to obtain qualifications as required by the degree-awarding institution, or to document personal achievements for lifelong learning purposes. Awarding: It is the act of formally granting students and other learners the credits that are assigned to the qualification and/or its components if they achieve the defined learning outcomes.  Credits are awarded to individual students after they have completed the required learning activities and achieved the defined learning outcomes, as evidenced by appropriate assessment

Academic Bank of Credits – Benefits

• Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) aims to digitally store the academic credits earned by students from HEls registered with ABC, for awarding degrees, diploma, and certificates taking into account credits earned by students. 
• ABC also intends to ensure the opening, closing, and validation of the Academic Bank of Accounts, verification, accumulation, and transfer or redemption for students. 
• ABC will also help students to choose their own learning path to attain a degree, diploma, or certificate as it works on the principle of multiple entry-multiple exits at any level of learning.

Academic Bank of Credits – Steps to be Followed

To enhance the reach of the ABC program, all higher educational institutions are requested to take action on the following on an urgent basis:

• The institutions need to register on the official website of ABC.
• Then, they need to upload data of student credits obtained during or after the academic year 2021-22.
• The institutions need to make the students aware of the ABC facility and encourage and hand-hold them to open Academic Bank accounts on the ABC portal.
• The institution also needs to create a hyperlink of the ABC URL on its respective website’s home page.
• They also need to depute nodal officers for implementing ABC and reflecting their details on their websites.
• Higher Educational institutions may insist their students fill up their ABC IDs on all examination forms.

Note: 

• While registering, institutions and the students can refer to the user manual.

• For any further information, students can contact the ABC cell of UGC at 011-24116316 & abc.ugc@gmail.com.

Academic Bank of Credits – Eligibility Criteria

The following institutions and students belonging to the respective institutions are eligible:

• All universities in India that are established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act, or a State Act
• Deemed-to-be universities that are declared as such under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956)
• Autonomous colleges and the institutions of national importance as declared by the Government of India and specially empowered by an Act of Parliament to confer or grant degrees.

Academic Bank of Credits – List of Higher Education Institutions Onboarded

1. National Institution of Technology, Arunachal Pradesh
2. OP Jindal Global University
3. Chandigarh University
4. Lovely Professional University
5. Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences
6. Symbiosis International Deemed University
7. Guru Nanak Dev University
8. University of Mumbai
9. Jamia Millia Islamia
10. Tezpur University
11. Bharati Vidyapeeth
12. Mizoram University
13. Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Viswavidhyalaya
14. The English and Foreign Languages University
15. Central University of Punjab
16. University of Hyderabad
17. Vellore Institute of Technology
18. Jawaharlal Nehru University
19. Indira Gandhi National Open University
20. University of Delhi

TO READ THE OFFICIAL NOTICE, CLICK HERE.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who developed the Academic Bank of Credits?

The National e-Governance Division (NeGD) of the Ministry of Electronics and lnformation Technology (MeitY) developed the ABC system.

What are the main features of the Academic Bank of Credits system?

It allows academic institutions to lodge and maintain the integrity of the credits. It also maintains the authenticity and confidentiality of student credits, helps in easy credit transfer through digital mode, and facilitates faster credit recognition.

When will the facility of ABC be applicable?

Credits obtained by undertaking courses in registered HEIs during or after the academic year 2021-2022 are eligible for academic bank of credits.

How can I sign up on the Academic Bank of Credits portal?

Students can register by logging in at www.abc.gov.in.