Nagpur: Pharmacy Council of India’s (PCI) decision to allow BPharm students admitted up to 2025-26 academic session to continue under existing syllabus with a ‘carry-on’ provision, coupled with Amravati University’s (AU) implementation of a smooth progression policy, has reignited demands from backlog students at Nagpur University (NU) for a similar relaxation.Backlog students of NU have stepped up their demand for a ‘carry-on’ for a smooth progression policy.The issue was raised on Tuesday by Nationalist Students’ Council (Sharad Pawar), which submitted a representation to NU VC Manali Kshirsagar seeking implementation of a carry-on policy for students from all faculties. The body argued NU students were being placed at a disadvantage compared to their counterparts in other universities.Referring to implementation of revised BPharm syllabus under NEP-2020 from 2026-27 academic session, PCI allowed students admitted up to 2025-26 to continue under the 2016-17 syllabus and permitted them to progress to next higher semester irrespective of backlog papers, while clearing pending courses up to 8th semester. The regulator also directed institutions to facilitate attendance requirements so that students could complete the programme under the existing regulations.Subsequently, AU issued a gazette notification on July 22 introducing a ‘Smooth Progression’ policy for UG programmes from 2026-27 academic session. The university permitted students under non-NEP programmes to move to higher semesters without meeting minimum credit or passing threshold, while requiring them to clear all pending subjects before degree completion.NSC’s Rudra Dhakde said NU has been receiving representations almost every day from students with backlogs who fear losing an academic year because they are not permitted to continue to the next semester. He said that if regulatory authorities and neighbouring universities could provide academic progression while ensuring that students eventually clear all papers, NU should adopt a similar approach.VC Dr Manali Kshirsagar said NU would abide by PCI’s directions in case of pharmacy students, as PCI has issued specific guidelines for the course. No such directions have been received from govt for other courses, she said.
