The Final-Year University Exams are Likely To Be Cancelled in view of spike in COVID-19 cases. Earlier, the exams were about to be held in July 2020. Also, the new session is likely to be started from October 2020, as per the officials. The UGC decided to revise its guidelines after several large universities and higher institutions showed their inability to conduct the examination. The officials also revealed that a panel, set up by UGC and headed by RC Khulad are asked to revisit the guidelines and to come with better alternative options.

Final-Year University Exams Likely To Be Cancelled

On 24 June 2020, AICTE chairman Anil Sahasrabuddhe said, “Now, taking into context the current COVID-19 pandemic situation in different states, the UGC is revising the guidelines that were earlier released.”

He further said, “This time around, the UGC has also roped in all the apex professional bodies like AICTE, Bar Council of India, Architecture Council, Pharmacy council, among others. We will review the situation across the country and release new exam guidelines,”.

Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has also asked the Union Grants Commission (UGC) to revisit the guidelines that were issued earlier for intermediate and final semester exams and the academic calendar. He tweeted, ” I have advised UGC to revisit the guidelines issued earlier for intermediate and Terminal Semester examinations and academic calendar. The foundation for revisited guidelines shall be health and safety of students, teachers and staff.”

College, University Final Year Exams Cancelled?

The college and university final year exams are likely to be cancelled. However, the UGC has not declared any official statement regarding the same yet. According to officials, a committee is set up which is working on revising the UGC guidelines that were released earlier for the final year as well as intermediate exams. The UGC will announce the newly revised guideline within a week.

UGC panel recommends Cancellation of Exams

The panel that has been appointed by UGC headed by Professor Kuhad has also recommended the cancellation of all the examinations i.e terminal as well as final year examinations due to high spike in the increase of COVID-19 cases in the country. The committee has recommended to release the result on the basis of previous semester examinations and internal assessments instead of holding the examinations.

UGC likely to issue revised guidelines soon

As per the sources close to UGC, findings of the committee has been shared with the HRD Ministry. Currently, officials from UGC and HRD Ministry are deliberating the future course of action as the decision will have a big impact on student’s committee across the country.

Students can Improve Scores

According to a senior official, “Students who get unsatisfied with the results on the basis of previous year examinations, can be given a chance to improve their scores by taking examinations later when the pandemic subsides.”

Teachers, Students Declare “Victory” After Education Minister Asks UGC To Revisit Exams Guidelines

Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) which has been opposing the Delhi University Open Book Examination (OBE) from weeks. The HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal suggestion to the UGC is being considered as “victory” for students as well as teachers.

DUTA has also released a statement welcoming the recommendation of UGC Panel expert committee headed by Prof. Kuhad to cancel the examinations. DUTA also welcomed HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal’s advisory to UGC for revisiting the guidelines. Candidates may check the DUTA Press release below:

On 24 June 2020, Delhi University Teachers Association also released a message to all the members that “Cancellation of exams are recommended by UGC but it is a choice for University of Delhi to cancel or proceed with OBE. Meeting with Examination dean and VC will be conducted tomorrow i.e 25 June 2020 and press release for the same will be released after that.”

To check the details regarding the admissions of colleges through Common Entrance test, Click here.

The Idea of Conducting a Common Entrance test for colleges has been ruled out. The idea was suggested by an expert committee to the Union Grant Commission (UGC). Candidates who are anxious about the admission in colleges for the 2020 – 2021 session will have to wait for some more time to get clarity on the status of various entrance exams. According to the reports, the universities and colleges will take more time to give clarity on the postponed entrance exams due to COVID-19 lockdown. Candidates may read the whole article for complete information regarding the update on CET exam by UGC.

Latest update: Admission to all central university will be via CUET UG.

Common Entrance Test for Colleges has been Ruled Out

According to a UGC senior official ” Single entrance exams are not possible this year because of the uncertainty of the situation and the difficulties that can arise because of it. The number of students is just too large for us to conduct a common entrance test at this time “.

As the plan of conducting a common entrance test has been ruled out, all the state and central institutions have been left on their own to decide the date, time and mechanism of admissions. The dates of the engineering and medical entrance exams i.e JEE Mains exam and NEET exam have been announced. However, the state or central universities who had postponed their entrance exams have not declared new exam dates.

Central Varsities Waiting for Govt Order

The Central university like Banaras Hindu University and Aligarh Muslim University have not declared their exam dates yet. According to the Officials of the universities, they are waiting for the order from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Aligarh Muslim University An AMU official said, “We are waiting for the central government instructions before announcing a new date for entrance exams. We will inform the students about the same through our official website,”. Jawaharlal Nehru University Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), whose entrance exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), has also not announced the new dates for the exams. The exams were scheduled to be held between 11-14 May 2020. Delhi University

Delhi University (DU), which takes admission of students at the largest number among all the central universities had announced the exam dates but had to postpone the registration again.

DU gives admission to around 50,000 students every year at UG level on the basis of Merit(Cutoff) and entrance exams. According to DU senior officials, schedule for both the methods are uncertain at this time. Shobha Bagai, the dean of admissions at Delhi University said that they will start the admission process after declaration of class 12th result by CBSE which is not declared yet. So, the university has not decided any date for starting the admission procedure. However, the university has started the preparation. The university conducts the entrance exam for UG Courses. The dean said that they have tied up with NTA for conduction of entrance exam. They are waiting for a go-ahead. Moreover, private universities have already started their admission procedure through online mode.

Online Admissions in Private Universities

OP Jindal University in Sonepat, Haryana, which is one of the biggest private universities in the country has also been selected as an ‘institute of eminence’ by the central government. The university has shifted its entrance test into online mode. OP Jindal University A statement from the OP Jindal University read “We have transitioned to a fully online system to conduct the admission process for all undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. This will take place through an AI-Enabled home proctored examination held under the aegis of the Jindal Scholastic Aptitude Test (JSAT). The exam will be administered by Pearson Virtual University Enterprises (VUE),”. Other than the law entrance exam which is scheduled to be conducted on 14 June 2020, all other exams are currently going smoothly.

NTA official website: www.nta.ac.in