The All India Council for Technical Education has made it compulsory for students of Engineering Colleges and other technical institutes to participate in one of five extracurricular activities it has
listed out, including yoga, for them to get the degree.
According to a Deccan Herald report, AICTE has said that students of institutions affiliated to it will have to opt for an extracurricular activity along with their regular course.
Five extracurricular activities have been listed by the AICTE:
1) Yoga
2) National Cadet Corps
3) NSS
4) Unnat Bharat Abhiyan
5) Sports
Students will have to ensure a minimum of 25 per cent attendance in the activities which will be organised on a weekly basis.
Students will not be given marks for their performance, however, their degree will be withheld if they don't ensure the minimum attendance.
The extra-curricular activities were optional for students till now and now it has been made mandatory, the report stated quoting an AICTE official.
The ministry of Human Resource Development last month said that the All India Board of studies of AICTE is considering to incorporate Yoga and value education in Engineering Course curriculum.
“Apart from studies, students need to do other activities too which is good for their well-being and for the society too. By doing yoga or sports they can take care of their health,” a senior AICTE official was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.