New Delhi, May 20 -- Harvard University faculty have voted to impose a strict cap on A grades beginning in fall 2027, marking one of the institution's most aggressive efforts in decades to combat grade inflation and redefine academic standards.

Under the new policy, A grades in undergraduate courses will generally be limited to about 20% of enrolled students, with instructors allowed limited flexibility to award up to four additional A grades in a class.

The move comes after years of debate over whether grades at elite universities have become too inflated to meaningfully distinguish exceptional academic work.

Faculty members approved the proposal by a vote of 458-201.

The new grading framework will:

-Cap A-range grades at roughly 20...