UGC Likely To Announce Revised Guidelines On Final Semester Exams Today

The University Grants Commission (UGC) is likely to issue revised guidelines for the final semester and final year examinations, today.

Students across the country appealed to the UGC and HRD Ministry to cancel the examinations in view of COVID-19 increasing cases. It is expected that UGC fresh guidelines will advise universities to scrap the final year examinations.

The HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank also hinted in his tweet last week, "I have advised the @ugc_india to revisit the guidelines issued earlier for Intermediate and Terminal Semester examinations and Academic Calendar. The foundation for revisited guidelines shall be the health and safety of students, teachers, and staff."

On the other hand, some institutions such as Delhi University have insisted on holding exams and DU has even been threatened with contempt proceedings by the Delhi High Court for 'misrepresenting' facts about DU's highly unpopular decision to hold the online open-book exams.

Earlier in April, UGC had issued exam and admission guidelines for universities and colleges. As per the guidelines, the universities were asked to hold the final year exams and final semester exams in July 2020. The guidelines also suggested promoting intermediate students on the basis of internal assessment and previous semester performance.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister also said on July 2, 2020 that the state will decide about the cancellation of the university level exams.

UGC will revisit the earlier set guidelines due to the increasing positive cases across the country and is likely to announce the new guidelines today. It is expected that final year students will be promoted on the basis of previous semester performance.