Calls for rethink on university exam and semester dates

India’s Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has asked the University Grants Commission to revisit the guidelines issued earlier for intermediate and terminal semester examinations and the academic calendar, reports the Press Trust of India.

Exams for final year students in universities and higher education institutions which were to be held in July are likely to be cancelled in view of the spike in COVID-19 cases, and the commencement of the new session is likely to be deferred to October, according to officials.

“The ministry has made it clear that the foundation for revisited guidelines shall be the health and safety of students, teachers [and] staff. The expert committee is of the view that the examinations due in July in most universities as per the revised academic calendar [should] be cancelled and marks for final examinations be awarded based on the past performance of each student … Students who are not happy with the final marks being given to them based on previous examinations can be given a chance to improve their scores by taking examinations later when the pandemic subsides,” a senior official said.
Full report on the Livemint site