UGC Guidelines for University Exams 2020 released – Final year exams to be conducted

UGC Guidelines 2020: Final Year university examinations may be postponed until the end of September, but must be conducted in either online or offline mode, the University Grants Commission (UGC) decided on Monday evening. Students who are unable to appear for these examinations will be given the opportunity to appear for special examinations which will be conducted later, according to an official statement.

The decision came after Union ministry of home affairs said it had sent a letter to the Union higher education Secretary permitting universities and institutions to conduct examinations.

The home ministry said the end-of-term examinations are compulsory according to UGC guidelines. “The final Term Examinations are to be compulsorily conducted as per the UGC Guidelines on Examinations and Academic Calendar for the Universities; and as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) approved by the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare,” the letter mentioned.

There had been a vociferous demand from a section of students and parents to cancel the examinations due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and use alternative grading mechanisms. At least seven State governments have already announced the cancellation of examinations. However, the UGC decided that it was important to “protect academic quality and credibility”, adding that state governments would also be asked to comply with the new guidelines.

“In case a student of the terminal semester/final year is unable to appear in the examination conducted by the university for whatsoever the reason(s) may be, he or she may be given an opportunity to appear in special examinations…which may be conducted by the university as and when feasible so that the student is not put to any inconvenience or disadvantage,” it said.

“The terminal semester/final year examinations [are to] be conducted by universities/institutions by the end of September 2020 in offline (pen and paper)/online/blended (online + offline) mode as per feasibility and suitability,” said the fresh guidelines. “In case a student of terminal semester/final year is unable to appear in the examination conducted by the University for whatever the reason may be, he/she may be given opportunity to appear in special examinations for such courses/papers, which may be conducted by the university as and when feasible, so that the student is not put to any inconvenience/disadvantage. The above provision shall be applicable only for the current academic session 2019-20 as a one-time measure.”

Students who have backlogs

Final year students with backlogs must also be evaluated through online or offline examinations. The rules for intermediate semesters remain unchanged, meaning that either internal assessment or examinations may be conducted.

While noting the importance of health, safety and fair opportunity for students, UGC said it was “very crucial to ensure academic credibility, career opportunities and future progress of students globally”. A UGC member said the situation was compared to the Emergency era, when examinations were cancelled and degrees awarded without examinations, leading to a lot of questions being raised on the quality of education. 

As the UGC is responsible for academic regulation and policy for the whole country, it will write to State Governors, who are Chancellors of State Universities, as well as State Chief Secretaries and Education Ministers to ask that they comply with the fresh guidelines, said the member.

The Home Ministry also gave its backing. “The final Term Examinations are to be compulsorily conducted as per the UGC Guidelines on Examinations and Academic Calendar for the Universities; and as per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) approved by the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare,” said an official statement.

UGC New Exam Guidelines 2020: What has changed

Decoding the new guidelines, students may note that nothing has really been changes other than the exams getting postponed. Understanding the importance of conducting the examinations – especially for final semester students, UGC has laid out clearly its intent to conduct the examinations. The colleges, however, have more time. 

Also, with  more time, states which have raised concerns may also agree to conduct the examination, once the conditions are conducive.,The new guidelines are also in sync with the decision taken by NTA to further postpone the national level examinations  – JEE and NEET in the month of September. HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has released the UGC’s New Examination Guidelines on his twitter handlie.