HYDERABAD: The Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge and Technology (RGUKT) in Basar will shift to a marks-based admission process for this academic year, replacing the earlier system that relied on Grade Point Average (GPA) scores. The decision, made by the state education department, has sparked a wave of concern over its potential impact on students from government schools.
Previously, RGUKT admissions were conducted using a GPA-based evaluation. That system awarded extra points—up to 0.4—to students from government schools, giving them a competitive edge. The proposed change to marks-based selection is now awaiting formal government approval, but university officials are expected to issue the admission notification later this month.
RGUKT Basar, a premier institution in Telangana, offers a six-year integrated B.Tech programme with full fee waivers, targeting meritorious students from underprivileged and rural backgrounds. With this change in admission criteria, critics warn that the foundational aim of the university might be undermined.
Concerns over fairness
The key concern is that a switch to marks will disproportionately benefit students from private schools, who typically score higher due to better resources and exam preparation. In contrast, the GPA system masked this disparity by grouping a range of marks (e.g., 92–100) into a single grade point, thereby levelling the playing field.
Government school students who scored, for example, 92 marks were awarded the same GPA as those who scored 100. With the addition of 0.4 GPA points, these students often secured admission at RGUKT. Under the new system, the same student would have their final score calculated as 96, falling short against private school students who often score 98 or above.
Although this year’s SSC memos include both GPA and subject-wise marks, the government appears to have favoured a return to raw scores. Critics are questioning the rationale behind considering marks when the grading system is already in place.
Growing demand for GPA-based selection
Parents, education activists, and government school teachers are calling for the reinstatement of the GPA system, arguing that it better reflects the performance of students from varying educational backgrounds. They contend that a marks-based approach will tilt admissions in favour of students from affluent, urban schools, defeating RGUKT’s purpose of uplifting rural talent.
The debate underscores deeper issues within the state’s educational policy—how to ensure equitable access to premier institutions while maintaining meritocracy. With the admission notification imminent, pressure is mounting on the state to reconsider or clarify its stance on this pivotal decision.
