UGC Directs Universities to Start Classes for First-Year Students From Nov 1; Check Revised Academic Calendar

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UGC has released a revised academic calendar, according to which the classes for first-year students will start from November and no new admissions will be taken after November 30, 2020.

UGC had earlier asked all the Universities and Colleges to complete the final year exams by the end of September. It also asked the commencement of first-year classes from September 1, however looking at the rising COVID-19 cases, the dates have been revised.

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The Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank also posted a tweet mentioning the UGC revised academic calendar.

In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission has accepted the Report of the Committee and approved the @ugc_india Guidelines on Academic Calendar for the First Year of Under-Graduate and Post-Graduate Students of the Universities for the Session 2020-21.

Suggested calendar???? pic.twitter.com/JPYNhiWb0k
— Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (@DrRPNishank) September 22, 2020

UGC's revised guidelines also state that in case there is a delay in declaration of the result of the qualifying examinations, the Universities can start the academic session by November 18, 2020. The teaching-learning process can be continued in online/offline or even blended mode.

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Due to the loss of study hours amid the COVID-19 crisis, the commission has also advised the higher educational institutions to teach six days a week. One of the important aspects covered in the guideline is- "In order to avoid financial hardships due to lockdown and related factors, a full refund of fees be made on account of all cancellation of admissions/migration of students, up to November 30, for this very session as a special case."

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