UGC issues revised guidelines, says final year examinations must be conducted by September end

The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Monday evening issued revised guidelines regarding the conducting of the terminal semesters ( or the final year examinations) by the universities. Yesterday, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had allowed universities to conduct the long-pending end-of-term examinations, but only on conditions complying with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) guidelines laid down by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

According to the newly issued revised guidelines o the academic calendar, the final year university examinations must be conducted by the end of September 2020.

University Grants Commission (UGC) issues revised guidelines regarding conduct of terminal semesters/final year examination by the Universities/institutions. Examinations to be completed by end of September 2020 in offline/online/blended (online+offline) mode. pic.twitter.com/Nc8BrLPgXI

— ANI (@ANI) July 7, 2020

The Commission said that the terminal semester or the final year (end-of-term) examinations are to be conducted by the universities or institutions by September end either offline (pen and paper) or online. It can also be in a blended mode (i.e. online + offline).

It further said that the guidelines regarding the intermediate semester/year examinations, as notified earlier in the April 29 statement, remain unchanged.

The UGC said, "It is reiterated that the universities should give paramount importance to health and safety of students, faculty, and staff and adhere to the Government protocols/guidelines related to COVID-19 while conducting the examinations."

"In view of the emerging situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic in India, it is important to safeguard the principles of health, safety, fair and equal opportunity for students," the UGC said, "At the same time, it is very crucial to ensure academic credibility, career opportunities, and future progress of students globally. Academic evaluation of students is a very important milestone in any education system."

The Commission said that it is "constantly making efforts to address the various issues related to teaching, learning, examinations, academic calendar, etc in the difficult times of COVID-19 pandemic."

A day earlier, in a letter to the Union Higher Education Secretary, the Home Ministry permitted the conduct of the examinations by universities and institutions.

The statement elaborated that the final term examinations are to be "compulsorily conducted" as per the UGC guidelines on examinations and the academic calendar for universities and as per Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) approved by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Several states, including Haryana, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh had earlier cancelled all higher education exams and instead announced that students will be promoted on the basis of their prior performances in exams.

Earlier yesterday, Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal "Nishank" had also suggested that the UGC now "revisits" its academic calendars and guidelines released in April.

Notably, the exams were pending in colleges and educational institutions since March this year, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

The new academic calendar and revised guidelines will help students find way to chart out their future course of action in their careers, especially since a lot of things regarding the educational curriculum remain unclear at this point due to the pandemic outbreak.