In a latest development, the Union Ministry of Human Resource development has written to all universities across the country, asking them to hold convocation every year without fail.

“Convocation ceremonies must be held regularly and degrees awarded annually as the event carries a huge significance for graduating students and is a moment of pride for their families,” a senior MHRD official was quoted as saying by a news agency.

The move from the MHRD came after few universities were found skipping the event.

“It was found that some universities were not doing the exercise regularly due to either financial or time constraints. However, they are supposed to do it every year,” the official added.

In addition to the new regulation, the MHRD has also asked all universities to send details of the last convocation held by them.

West Bengal’s Visva Bharati University had conducted its convocation in May after five years of long gap.

The Central University of Tripura held its convocation after four years this year where they awarded degrees to all scholars from the last four years.

Forty-six years after its first and only convocation, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) held its second convocation this year.

President Ram Nath Kovind had in May this year raised this issue with vice-chancellors of central universities and MHRD officials at a visitor’s conference.

During the conference, the President had pointed out that degrees must be awarded annually at a convocation ceremony as it carries a huge significance for the student graduating and is a moment of pride for their respective family members.

Besides the convocation circular, the MHRD has also written to all universities to increase their research output, get more patents and citations.

“Our universities are not doing great when it comes to research and innovation. We have written to all universities to increase their research output as well. They have to increase the number of citations and patents that they are filing,” the official added.