‘Fresh varsity session from Sept, pending exams in July’

MPhil And PhD Students Get 6-Month Extension From UGC

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

1.5.2020

New Delhi:

The new academic session will begin in universities from September 1 and from August 1for those already enrolled, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has said in its guidelines on examinations and academic calendar in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. The pending university exams are to be conducted in July.

The admissions for the 2020-21 session will be conducted between August 1-31, according to the guidelines issued on Wednesday. It has also been recommended that universities may adopt alternative and simplified modes and methods of exams to complete the process in a shorter period of time like reducing the time from 3 hours to 2 hours as well as offering flexibility of both online and offline exams. The guidelines, based on the recommendations of two expert committees, are suggestive in nature and universities can adjust as per their requirement and prevailing situation.

The University Grants Commission said in case the situation does not appear to be normal in view of Covid-19, grading of students could be composite of 50% marks on the basis of internal evaluation and 50% marks on the basis of performance in previous semester (if available). In case of unavailability of previous semester marks, it said, “100% evaluation may be done on the basis of internal assessment.” In such a situation, students may be allowed to improve their grades in special exams during next semester.

The UGC has also granted extension of six months to students of MPhil and PhD.

It stated that universities may follow a six-day week pattern, develop virtual classroom and video-conferencing facilities; prepare e-content/ e-lab experiments and upload on their websites; and train faculty in information and communications technology (ICT) for use of online teaching tools so that they complete about 25% of the syllabus through online teaching.

In view of the uncertain situation, higher educational institutions have been given the freedom to adopt/ adapt and implement these guidelines by making alterations, additions or modifications to deal with any particular situations in the best interest of students, the institution and the entire education system.

For the remaining 2019-20 session, it has suggested that teaching would continue through distance learning and online tools like video-conferencing, social media, emails, etc till May 31. Activities like finalisation of dissertation or project work, internship reports, e-labs, completion of syllabus, internal assessment, assignment and placement drive will be conducted between June 1and 15. The examinations will be conducted between July 1 and 31 and results will be declared on July 31 (for terminal exams) and August 14 (for intermediate papers).