New academic session for freshers to begin in universities from September
The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Wednesday issued a new academic calendar for universities amid the lockdown over coronavirus. It said that the new academic session of universities across the country will start in September. Intermediate Semester Students will be graded based on the internal assessment of the present and previous semester. In states where the COVID-19 situation has normalized, there will be exams in the month of July, the UGC said.
The higher education regulator said the universities may conduct the practical examinations and Viva-Voce Examinations through Skype or other meeting apps, and in case of intermediate semesters, the practical examinations may be conducted during the ensuing semesters.
Terminal semester students exams will be held in the month of July. 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.
The UGC said the universities may adopt alternative and simplified modes and methods of examinations to complete the process in shorter period of time. "Universities may adopt efficient and innovative modes of examinations by reducing the time from 3 hours to 2 hours."
The colleges will remain closed till then but the attendance for all students will be marked 100 per cent for this period. The University Grants Commission UGC had constituted a special committee for when and how to start a new session in universities.
The UGC said that the universities may follow six-day week pattern, devise proforma to record travel or stay history of staff, students for lockdown period.
