Bhubaneswar: In a significant step towards implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Higher Education Department of Odisha has directed all government and non-government higher education institutions to offer courses under Multidisciplinary Course (MDC), Skill Enhancement Course (SEC), and Value-Added Course (VAC).
In a letter issued on August 19, 2026, Director of Higher Education Kaliprasanna Mohapatra instructed the Principals of all Higher Education Institutions to ensure the effective rollout of the NEP-2020 curriculum framework. Model syllabi for several courses under MDC, SEC, and VAC have already been developed by the department. To provide students with adequate academic choices, every Head of Department has been asked to offer at least two courses from the approved list of MDC, SEC, and VAC courses, based on the available faculty and academic expertise of the respective department.
The letter further clarifies that each department must offer a minimum of two Multidisciplinary Courses. For instance, if the Zoology Department has developed seven MDC courses, it is required to offer at least two of them. Students are expected to choose Multidisciplinary Courses from subjects other than their major subject. A student of Home Science, for example, cannot opt for an MDC from the Home Science Department and must select a course from another department. In cases where a department does not have adequate MDC options, students may choose courses from other departments.
The selected courses will be included in the institutional course basket for student registration. Colleges have also been directed to make necessary arrangements regarding faculty allocation, class schedules, and academic planning to ensure the smooth conduct of these courses.
The directive aims to ensure wider academic choices for students and proper implementation of the multidisciplinary approach envisioned under NEP-2020 across colleges in Odisha.
