UGC Guidelines 2020: Academic calendar for new admissions

The UGC released the academic calendar for the students who were concerned about their admissions and further studies.

Amid closed academic institutions, postponed exams and delayed results, University Grant Commission (UGC) released its much-awaited guidelines for examinations and new academic sessions. In UGC Guidelines 2020 the commission released dates for postponed exams, the commencement of the new academic session, streamlining new admissions, the commencement of admission process and more.

COVID-19 lockdown brought the academic activities to a standstill. In the midst of all the uncertainties and chaos, UGC Guidelines 2020 came as a relief to students who were stressed about their future. The UGC released the academic calendar for the students who were concerned about their admissions and further studies. According to the latest guidelines, the Commission suggested universities "develop a fool-proof plan before the resumption of session, strictly following the norms of “social distancing” and other required precautions, to avoid any eventuality arising due to COVID-19." The guidelines further stated that "Admissions to the UG and PG programmes for the session 2020-21 may be completed by August 31, 2020. If necessity arises, provisional admissions may also be made and relevant documents of qualifying examination may be accepted up to September 30, 2020." Referring to the already enrolled students, UGC said, "The Academic Session 2020-21 may commence from 01.8.2020 for old students and from 01.09.2020 for fresh students." 

UGC Guidelines 2020: Calendar for New Academic Session (2020-2021)

The following calendar is suggested for the academic session 2020-2021:

Events	Dates
Admission Process	01-Aug-2020 to 31-Aug-2020
Commencement of Classes for 2nd/ 3rdyear students	01-Aug-2020
Commencement of Classes for Fresh batch (First Semester/Year)	01-Sep-2020
Conduct of Examinations	01-Jan-2021 to 25-Jan-2021
Commencement of Classes for Even Semester	27-Jan-2021
Dispersal of Classes	25-May-2021
Conduct of Examinations	26-May-2021 to 25-Jun-2021
Summer Vacations	01-July-2021 to 30-July-2021
Commencement of Next Academic Session	02-Aug-2021

To work on an alternative academic calendar and to look into the ways of conducting exams in universities amid the COVID-19 spread, UGC formed a committee led by Haryana University Vice-Chancellor RC Kuhad. The second committee was formed to suggest measures to improve online education which was led by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) V-C Nageshwar Rao. The Council received reports from both the committees on April 24. On April 29, the Commission accepted the reports submitted by its expert committees and released a reformed academic calendar for the academic session 2020-21.

These UGC guidelines on examinations and academic calendar for the universities in view of COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown were issued in presence of Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' in New Delhi today. Secretary, Higher Education, MHRD Amit Khare and senior officials of the Ministry and UGC were present on the occasion.

To check the official PDF of UGC guidelines 2020, CLICK HERE

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