After much deliberation, the Union Human Resource and Development Ministry said the final year examinations in the universities will be held in September. The end-of-term semesters were postponed due to coronavirus outbreak in the country.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) said “The terminal semester will be conducted by the universities by the end of September, 2020 in offline (pen and paper) or online or blended (online + offline) mode.”
The decision came after the Union ministry of home affairs said it had sent a letter to the Union higher education Secretary permitting universities and institutions to conduct examinations.
Also read: UGC to release guidelines for final year exams soon
The home ministry said the end-of-term examinations are compulsory according to UGC guidelines.
The apex education regulator announced the ‘UGC Revised Guidelines on Examinations and Academic Calender for the Universities in view of COVID-19 Pandemic’. “In the view of the emerging situation related to COVID-19 pandemic in India, it is important to safeguard the principles of health, safety, fair and equal opportunity for students,” it mentioned.
Those students who have a backlog should compulsorily be evaluated by offline or online examinations as per their ‘feasibility and suitability’. If a final year student is unable to appear in the examination, the university must arrange a special examination for the student, the regulator said.
“In case a student of terminal semester/final year is unable to appear in the examination conducted by the university for whatsoever the reason may be, he or she may be given opportunity to appear in special examinations…which may be conducted by the university as and when feasible, so that the student is not put to any inconvenience or disadvantage,” it said.
The UGC has revisited its earlier guidelines related to university examinations.
In view of the safety, career progression and placements of the students and their larger interests, after consulting @HMOIndia and @MoHFW_INDIA, it has been decided that pic.twitter.com/evKTYPwnIa— Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) July 6, 2020
