GTU rolls out sweeping changes: Indian Army soldiers to get degrees based on technical prowess

The Gujarat Technological University (GTU) initiated academic reforms at a meeting held on Tuesday. The academic council of the varsity has made sweeping changes over conferring degrees to serving and retired Indian Army soldiers and stricter punishment for unfair practices.

Under the central government’s Military and Paramilitary Services, soldiers serve in trades such as artillery, vehicle maintenance, mechanical, and electrical work. However, after completing their service, despite having received technical training and practical experience, several ex-servicemen are forced to take up jobs of  security guards due to the lack of formal certificates, diplomas, or degrees.

Following a representation by the Military Engineering School in Vadodara, GTU had constituted a committee to evaluate the technical work of serving and retired soldiers. Based on their expertise, the university will formally confer technical diplomas, degrees, or certificates.

Moreover, GTU has also revised the rules regarding punishment for exam malpractice after 13 years. Earlier, if an answer sheet was torn, had defects, or showed minor irregularities, it attracted a Level-3 punishment. Now, such cases will fall under Level-1 punishment.

Moreover, the existing rules only mentioned mobile phones, but did not cover electronic devices such as Bluetooth gadgets, hearing aids, microsensors, cameras, or smartwatches. From now on, if students are caught using such devices in exams, they too will face punishment of varying severity.

Strict action against dummy candidates

Previously, if a dummy student was caught writing an exam, both the dummy and the actual student (if from GTU) could be penalised by cancellation of the semester. But if the dummy student belonged to another university, GTU had no provision for action. Under the new rules, however, an FIR will be lodged against such students, and their respective universities will be requested to cancel their semester or debar them.

The council has also decided to implement the minimum academic standards set by the Architecture Council, which require at least 40% marks in theory exams and 50% in practicals to pass. From the Summer 2026 exams, a new question paper pattern will be introduced for the Master of Engineering courses.

Additionally, a two-week social internship system (from Semester 4 onwards) has been introduced for 2 credits. GTU has also implemented an Outcome-Based Curriculum and Assessment Guideline.

GTU annuls PhD degree

For the first time in its history, the council annulled the PhD degree of suspended systems analyst Keyur Shah, who was earlier suspended over the ‘Triple C’ exam scandal. Shah, who worked in the Computer-IT Department, received his PhD degree in 2017.

A complaint was filed alleging that his research paper was published in a clone journal, in violation of UGC norms. GTU had formed a committee to investigate the matter. The committee confirmed that the journal was indeed a clone journal, though it did not give a clear opinion. This marks the first time since the university’s establishment that a student’s degree has been revoked.