
State reduces art diploma to three years, reforms 50-yr-old policy
Pune: The state higher and technical education department has revised the eligibility criteria and duration of eight art diploma courses, aligning them with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The updated courses include diplomas in applied art, drawing and painting, sculpture and modelling, and several specialisations in art and craft such as interior decoration, textile design (printing and weaving), ceramics and pottery, and metal craft.
In the new reforms, not only is the foundational course scrapped, but also the overall duration of the diploma courses which have been reduced to three years. This is the first overhaul of the art education framework in the state in nearly five decades.
Students can pursue the degree course after completing the diploma as per old rules and regulations.
Starting from 2025–2026, students can directly enrol in these diploma programmes after completing their Std X education, eliminating the need for a foundational course. Until now, students had to complete a one-year foundational course post-Std X to gain entry into four-year diploma programmes.
Previously, students completed a one-year foundational course before being eligible for a four-year diploma—an outdated requirement that discouraged enrolment and delayed career opportunities.
Under the revised structure, the foundation course has been renamed the foundation certificate in art and design and will be optional, maintaining a one-year (two-semester) format for those still interested.
Joint secretary of the state higher and technical education department Santosh Khorgade said this long-awaited change—executed after 50 years—will shorten the duration of these courses from four years to three, making art education more accessible and employment-oriented.
"By allowing direct admissions after SSC and aligning with National Education Policy 2020, we aim to give art students the same professional and entrepreneurial edge that other diploma holders enjoy," Khorgade said in a June 6 notification. This initiative will benefit students and increase participation in art education across the state.
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