New academic session in varsities from Sept

PTI

New Delhi

The new academic session for freshers may begin in universities from September and for already-enrolled students in August in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, the University Grants Commission (UGC) told varsities on Wednesday.

The admission process will begin in universities from August 1.

Detailing the guidelines for examinations and academic calendar for the universities in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, the Commission said the exams for final semester students will be conducted in July.

The varsities may decide whether to conduct exams online or offline keeping in view the support system available with them and ensuring fair opportunity to all students.

The UGC has said the lockdown period may be considered as “deemed to be attended” by all students and if the situation demands, the universities can have summer vacations for 30 days in June.

“Intermediate students will be graded based on internal assessment of the present and previous semester. In states where the COVID-19 situation has normalised, there will be exams in the month of July. For terminal semester students, exams will be held in July,” the UGC
said.

“Universities may follow a six-day week pattern and devise proforma to record travel or stay history of staff and students for the lockdown period. Extension of six months will be granted to MPhil, PhD students and viva-voice be conducted through videoconference,” it added.

The Commission clarified that the guidelines are advisory in nature and varsities may chalk out their own plan taking into consideration issues pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A COVID-19 cell will be constituted in every university which will be empowered to solve the issues of students related to academic calendar and examinations and a COVID-19 cell in the UGC will be created for faster decision-making,” the Commission said.

The UGC has recommended that universities may adopt alternative and simplified modes and methods of examinations to complete the process in shorter period of time.