# VTU introduces minor degrees, mandates 18 extra credits 2026-10-10T23:56:37+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) has introduced regulations allowing BE students to earn a minor degree by completing at least 18 additional credits through online courses, including NPTEL programmes. The regulations were notified on 5 October after approval by the Executive Council on 2 June, and a circular has been issued to all affiliated colleges. Students can register from the third semester and begin courses in the fourth semester, completing them before the eighth-semester exams. To earn the minor, students must complete both the BE and minor within the maximum duration and secure a minimum BE CGPA of 4.0. The university will issue a separate minor degree certificate alongside the BE degree. Minor degree credits will not count towards the BE CGPA or rank. Students cannot register for Honours and minor degrees simultaneously, and switching between them is not permitted. Those who exit or fail to complete the minor will not receive any certificate or transcript for credits earned. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Both The Times of India and Deccan Herald cover VTU's minor degree regulations as straight news, with no discernible slant. The Times of India provides a fuller set of rules, including CGPA minimums and the ban on simultaneous Honours registration. Deccan Herald frames the move around employability and skills diversification, and adds detail on NPTEL assessment cut-offs. Neither outlet critiques or praises the policy beyond the university's own statements. The uniform coverage reflects the administrative nature of the announcement. Students can now decide whether to take on the extra 18 credits, with the key constraint being the prohibition on switching between Honours and minor programmes. ## Coverage Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) Straight news style with detailed regulations and VC quote - deccanherald.com (neutral report) Straight news style focused on employability and course options This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Tags: Bengaluru, NPTEL, S Vidyashankar, Visvesvaraya Technological University, VTU Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/vtu-introduces-minor-degrees-mandates-18-extra-credits/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/vtu-introduces-minor-degrees-mandates-18-extra-credits/#story-in-brief How this brief was made: an AI model read the reports linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. Stance labels are editorial classifications of how each outlet framed this story, assigned by the same model, not ratings of the outlets. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/