80% go for online mode as Delhi University exams kick off today

NEW DELHI: A majority of undergraduate students have opted to appear online for the second phase of examination at Delhi University in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Just about 20 per cent of the students will be physically appearing for the exam, which begins from Monday.

Most of the students appearing for the blended exam are from School of Open Learning (SOL). Out of the 13,815 students from SOL who have registered for the exam, just 3,035 have opted to appear physically. This includes six with physical disability and 11 with visual impairment.
Only 285 students have opted for the physical exam from regular colleges and Non-Collegiate Women’s Education Board (NCWEB). Most colleges did not even have to prepare themselves for holding the physical exam.
Ramanujan College principal SP Agarwal said, “From our college, 14 students have registered for the second phase. But all of them have opted for online open book exam.”
Similarly at Aryabhatta College, all 11 of the candidates have decided to appear for the online exam. “The numbers are so less that colleges can easily conduct the exam by placing one or two students in each classroom,” said Manoj Sinha, principal of the college.
At Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma, one of the students had opted for the physical exam but later he also changed his option. At Ramjas College, however, there are three students who have opted for the physical exam.
Shubham Kumar, a student with visual impairment who will be appearing for the physical exam at Rajdhani College, has arranged a private car for himself. “A relative of mine has allowed me to use his car on the exam day,” Kumar said.
Visually impaired students from outside Delhi have also opted for the online exam as they did not want to risk their lives by travelling.
Students appearing for the online exam will receive question paper on their registered e-mail IDs. After finishing the paper, they will have to send back the scanned images/photos of the answer scripts via e-mail itself. Those physically appearing for the exam will have to submit a self-declaration before entering the examination centre.
Students for both the modes of examination shall answer the questions on plain/ruled A4 size paper and shall use their own papers for writing their answers. All required stationery will have to be arranged by students themselves. Electronic gazettes shall be permissible during the exam.