Introduction of the four-year degree with research (FYDR) programme in colleges is one of the major reforms proposed by the National Education Policy, 2020. Many higher education institutions are working out modalities to offer FYDR in the upcoming years. This article examines the preparedness of our colleges to introduce the FYDR programme. Based on the analysis of scores of the top 100 colleges in research and professional practices, one of the parameters used by the National Institutional Ranking Framework, 2021, it is argued that even top-ranking colleges do not have adequate intellectual resources and conditions to provide research guidance to undergraduate students. Implementation of FYDR without adequate preparation may have serious negative implications on students and on the overall quality of the higher education system. Recent policy moves of making PhDs not mandatory for faculty recruitment may adversely affect the institutional capacity of colleges to offer FYDR in future.
