Lucknow:Students aspiring to enter the pharmaceutical field in Uttar Pradesh can now hope for direct admission into pharmacy institutes for the academic session 2025-26, following a directive from the state government. According to the policy change announced by the Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) and the Uttar Pradesh Higher Education Services Commission (UPHESC), selected students will be able to secure seats in B.Pharm and D.Pharm programmes without undergoing the traditional entrance test, officials cited eligibility criteria and management quota norms in the new framework. The new scheme will allow students who have completed their 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Mathematics to apply for direct admission in affiliated pharmacy colleges across Lucknow and other districts. Alongside, seats reserved under management and NRI quotas will be streamlined by institutes to ensure transparency and compliance with government guidelines. The university emphasised that institutes must publish prospectuses and admission schedules, clearly stating tuition fees, seat matrix, eligibility criteria and counselling procedures. Further, the AKTU has instructed all pharmacy institutes to prepare a merit list based on Class 12 marks and submit category-wise data to the UPHESC for audit and monitoring. Any deviation from the direct admission policy would attract penalties, including withdrawal of approval and affiliation. Institutes are also mandated to reserve 15 % of seats for students from economically weaker sections and to conduct a special counselling round for left-over seats before the academic session begins. While the move aims to expand access and simplify entry into pharmacy education, students and parents expressed mixed reactions—some welcomed the reduced dependency on entrance exams, while others flagged concerns about quality, campus infrastructure and mentor availability in certain affiliated colleges. Experts noted that the direct admission pathway might place greater responsibility on educational institutions to maintain academic standards and outcomes, reportsDainik Bhaskar. Also Read: PCI Bars 89 Pharmacy Colleges in Maharashtra from 2025-26 Admissions Over Regulatory Lapses