Goa puts four-year NEP degree rollout on hold

PANAJI
In a major policy pause, the State government has put on hold the crucial transition from the three-year degree programme to a four-year undergraduate structure under the National Education Policy (NEP), which was slated for rollout from the upcoming academic year 2026-27.
Director of Higher Education Bhushan Sawaikar said the government has decided to roll out the four-year undergraduate programme after the 2026-27 academic term to ensure smoother implementation, following concerns over academic alignment, infrastructure readiness and institutional capacity.
“We need to consult the stakeholders before going ahead,” he said.
The decision effectively delays the full implementation of NEP-linked undergraduate restructuring, which aims to introduce a flexible, multidisciplinary four-year degree system with multiple exit options.
The government was gearing up for a transition from the traditional three-year format to the expanded four-year structure from the coming term 2026-27; however, the same has been postponed.
“The three-year undergraduate structure under NEP will continue. We need additional time to address gaps in faculty strength, curriculum design, and academic integration before introducing the fourth year,” he explained.
Under NEP 2020, undergraduate education is designed to offer multiple pathways, including certificate, diploma, and degree exits culminating in a four-year honours or research degree. However, in Goa, the final-year component requires synchronisation with postgraduate programmes, which are still not fully aligned.
NEP notes that the four-year undergraduate programme will allow the opportunity to experience the full range of holistic and multidisciplinary education in addition to a focus on the chosen major and minors as per the choices of the student.