UGC Guidelines 2020: 10 important points related to semester exams & new academic calendar

The University Grants Commission (UGC) released its much-awaited guidelines on Wednesday i.e. April 29.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) released its much-awaited guidelines on Wednesday i.e. April 29. The guidelines released by the Commission are related to the pending examinations and other academic activities along with the academic calendar for next academic session and admissions. The nationwide lockdown due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus ruptured the academic schedule. The universities and colleges across India are shut since the month of March to contain the spread of the deadly virus COVID-19.

The closure of campuses led to the postponement of semester exams and other academic activities. In order to streamline the distorted academic schedule, the UGC appointed two expert committees to suggest guidelines to conduct examinations and also to formulate an academic calendar for the future in view of the time lost due to the closure of higher educational institutions in the country.

UGC Guidelines 2020: 10 Important Points related to Academic Calendar and Semester Exams

1. These UGC guidelines are advisory in nature and the universities may formulate its own plan of action considering the issues pertaining to COVID - 19 pandemic, and also by ensuring social distancing.
2. The new academic session for first year’s i.e. new admissions will begin in September. However, the academic session for already enrolled students will begin in August.
3. While the intermediate semester students will be graded based on internal assessment of the present and previous semester, the exams for terminal semester students will be held in the month of July. Exams in the month of July can be conducted in the states where the prevailing situation due to the outbreak of COVID-19 is under control.
4. Period of lockdown may be treated as 'deemed to be attended' by all the students/ research scholars.
5. Universities will constitute a COVID-19 cell which will be empowered to solve the issues of students related to academic calendar and examinations.
6. Universities may adopt efficient and innovative modes of examinations by reducing the time from 3 hours to 2 hours and they may conduct the exams in offline or online mode, as per their ordinances or rules and regulations, the scheme of examinations, observing the guidelines of "social distancing" and keeping in view the support system available with them and ensuring afair opportunity to all students.
7. If feasible legally, the Universities may adopt alternative modes of the admission process.
8. An extension of six months period would be granted to the MPhil and PhD students. The universities may conduct the PhD and MPhil Viva -Voce examinations through video conferencing using Google, Skype, Microsoft Technologies or any other reliable and mutually convenient technology.
9. The universities may conduct the practical examinations and Viva-Voce Examinations through Skype or other meeting apps, and in the case of intermediate semesters, the practical examinations may be conducted during the ensuing semesters.
10. Educational institutions located at places where the Government (Centre/ State) has imposed restrictions on gathering of public may plan accordingly.

Read More:

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• UGC Guidelines 2020: MPhil, PhD students to get extension, end semester examinations in July

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