NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed all varsities to treat the Applied Mathematics subject for class 12 students at par with Mathematics while calculating aggregate marks for admission to undergraduate courses for humanities and commerce.
The directive by the UGC came following a request by the CBSE that noted that some universities make it mandatory for students to have studied mathematics as a subject at the senior secondary level to take admission in undergraduate courses in economics, commerce and social sciences.
“The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced a course Applied Mathematics for students of classes 11 and 12.
The subject involves 80 per cent marks for theory and 20 per cent marks for practical work in the board examination.
This subject is offered under academic stream and has curriculum specifications that are compatible with the other major subjects,” UGC Secretary Rajnish Jain said in a letter to vice chancellors.
This subject is a regular academic subject, he said.
“The marks obtained by the candidates in this subject may be included for calculating the aggregate marks for deciding the eligibility for admission.
Hence, 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,” Jain said.
The commission has asked universities to take appropriate action for recognition of the new subject — Applied Mathematics — for admission of students in degree programmes.
The CBSE had introduced Applied Mathematics as an academic elective which is in addition to the existing Mathematics subject offered by the board. —PTI

Press Trust of India