NU loses out on revaluation revenue due to Covid-19: RTI query

Nagpur: The Nagpur University has lost out on revenue that comes from the revaluation process, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Usually, fees collected from over four lakh students towards examination and revaluation are the biggest earners for NU administration, which utilises it for various welfare measures, besides for organizing exams.
Since last three years, it was earning over Rs1 crore from revaluation, but in 2020-21 it collected only Rs2.03 lakh due to online examinations, which were forced on students due to pandemic induced lockdown in entire country.
As per RTI reply provided to activist Abhay Kolarkar, in summer 2018 about 38,996 students applied for revaluation and 45,149 in winter the same year. In 2019, 45,500 applied for summer and 63,275 in winter exams. However, these numbers fell to just 1,245 in summer last year, since except first phase a majority of papers were conducted online.
NU had collected Rs1.15 crore in 2017-18 through revaluation fees, which increased to Rs1.66 crore in 2018-19. In 2019-20, it had garnered Rs1.45 crore, but in 2020-21 the earnings dropped significantly to just Rs2.03 lakh. The information was released by NU assistant registrars BA Shukla (revaluation) and Manoj Joshi (accounts) to Kolarkar’s queries.
Confirming the drop in revenue, vice chancellor Subhash Chaudhari clarified that revenue of 2020-21 was from students who appeared in 2019 winter exams and had applied for revaluation. “This exam was conducted in traditional pen and paper format. Therefore, the students applied for revaluation. In 2020, the summer exam was itself held in October-November due to the pandemic, except for the first phase. Moreover, it was held in the online pattern with multiple-choice questions. So, no question of revaluation arises in such exams,” he told TOI.
The VC added that even the winter exam was being held online and last phase was yet to be conducted. However, some papers of third phase of exams scheduled in April end were also deferred due to fresh lockdown imposed by the Maharashtra government in view of unprecedented surge in Covid-19 cases in state.
REVALUATION REVENUE
Year ----------------------- Revenue (Rs)
2017-18 ----------------- 1,15,53,657
2018-19 ----------------- 1,66,92,737
2019-20 ----------------- 1,45,59, 700
2020-21 ----------------- 2,03,995
REVALUATION APPLICATIONS
Exams-------------------- Applications
Summer 2018 -------- 38,996
Winter 2018 --------- 45,149
Summer 2019 -------- 45,500
Winter 2019 --------- 63,275
Summer 2020 –——— 1,245