Bengaluru: The higher education department is considering revoking its earlier circular on not issuing physical marks cards and only relying on digital ones.At a meeting of vice-chancellors with higher education minister Basavaraj Rayareddi at Karnataka State Higher Education Council on Friday, VCs raised the issue of lack of physical marks cards.At present, all academic documents are available only in digital format in the National Academic Depository-DigiLocker. NAD is a central govt initiative and acts as a 24×7 online storehouse of all academic awards such as certificates, diplomas, degrees, and marksheets, duly digitised. Credits are registered in the Academic Bank of Credits.The University Grants Commission (UGC) had asked all higher educational institutions to use NAD services to verify academic records. The state govt, in the 2023-24 budget, decided to switch completely to digital marks cards following rampant issuance of fake ones. But the move caused inconvenience to students.“We’ve been receiving requests from students and parents for physical marks. They’ve been complaining that digital marks cards are not accepted at many places, including some foreign universities and corporates,” said one vice-chancellor.Another VC who attended the meeting said: “The minister understood the concern and responded positively. He said govt would fix the minimum and maximum rates at which marks cards are to be printed. There should not be any rate disparity between universities. It will also fix the quality requirements and safety standards necessary to prevent fake marks cards.”Thulasi Maddineni, secretary to the higher education department, said: “We’re considering the VCs’ demand. We’re working on a system where both physical and digital marks cards can be used. Online verification is important to control fake marks cards. So, while physical marks cards will be issued, digital ones will also continue. In case anyone wants to verify the authenticity of a marks card, it will be available on DigiLocker.”At the meeting, it was also decided to constitute a committee to examine the basic infrastructure at universities that have not yet got National Assessment and Accreditation Council accreditation. The minister also instructed the VCs to take care of university lands and not tolerate land encroachment.Also discussed was the compulsory introduction of geology as a subject in civil engineering. The VCs also discussed the introduction of job-oriented courses at both UG and PG level in aviation, railway engineering, and urban planning.
