The state government, as per the direction of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and University Grant Commission (UGC), issued orders to reduce the course period of Master of Computer Application (MCA) from this academic year.

The decision to decrease one year from the course duration was taken during the last UGC meeting held in December 2019. However, due to the pandemic, the directions for implementation of the same from the coming academic year were communicated to all the states recently.

"The UGC stated that the decision was taken after several representations from the students. The students had stated that many of the topics taught in the first year of the earlier three-year pattern were already taught to them during their graduation. So to not waste students' time, the UGC took this decision, which is expected to be followed by all the states," explained Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) chairperson Hemachandra Reddy.

The government order stated that for BSc/BA/BCom with Mathematics background students shall pass the prerequisite courses designed by the concerned universities. "The vice-chancellors of all state universities are requested to design the two-year MCA course curriculum, prerequisite courses for general BSc/BA/BCom students with Mathematics background and mode of conducting prerequisite courses as per norms of AICTE," stated the order.