UGC Guidelines on Examinations and Academic Calendar for the Universities in View of COVID-19 and Subsequent Lockdown | UGC
These UGC guidelines on Examinations and Academic Calendar for the Universities in View of COVID-19 Pandemic and Subsequent Lockdown were issued in presence of Union HRD Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' in New Delhi today. Secretary, Higher Education, MHRD Shri Amit Khare and senior officials of the Ministry and UGC were present on the occasion.
The following are the 10 main recommendations in the guidelines issued by UGC today:
- These UGC guidelines are advisory in nature and the universities may chart out its own plan of action taking into consideration the issues pertaining to COVID - 19 pandemic, and also by ensuring social distancing.
- The exams for terminal semester students will be held in the month of July and intermediate semester students will be graded based on 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.
- College sessions will begin in August for current students and September for new ones.
- 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.
- Universities may adopt efficient and innovative modes of examinations by reducing the time from 3 hours to 2 hours and they may conduct the exams in offline or online mode, as per their ordinances or rules and regulations, scheme of examinations, observing the guidelines of "social distancing" and keeping in view the support system available with them and ensuring fair opportunity to all students.
- Period of lockdown may be treated as 'deemed to be attended' by all the students/ research scholars.
- An extension of six months period has been allowed to the M.Phil. or Ph.D. students and the universities may conduct the Ph.D. and M. Phil. Viva -Voce examinations through video conferencing using Google, Skype, Microsoft Technologies or any other reliable and mutually convenient technology.
- 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.
- University may adopt alternative modes of admission process, if otherwise legally tenable.
- Educational institutions located at places where the Government (Centre/ State) have imposed restrictions on gathering of public, the institutions may plan accordingly.
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
1.The following calendar is suggested for the academic session 2019-2020:
The Academic Calendar is suggestive in nature. The universities may adopt / adapt it after making a comprehensive assessment of their level of preparedness, residential status of the students, status of COVID-19 pandemic spread in their city / region / state and other factors.
| Start of Even Semester | 01.01.2020 |
| Suspension of Classes | 16.03.2020 |
| Continuation of Teaching-Learning through various modes such as Online Learning / Distance Learning / Social Media (WhatsApp / YouTube) / E-mails / Video Conferencing / Mobile Apps / SWAYAMPRABHA Channels on DTH etc. | 16.03.2020 to 31.05.2020 |
| Finalisation of Dissertation/ Project Work/ Internship Reports/ E-labs/ Completion of Syllabus/ Internal Assessment/ Assignment/ Students Placement Drive etc. | 01.06.2020 to 15.06.2020 |
| Summer Vacations# | 16.06.2020 to 30.06.2020 |
| Conduct of Examinations: | |
| Terminal Semester/ Year | 01.07.2020 to 15.07.2020 |
| Intermediate Semester/Year | 16.07.2020 to 31.07.2020 |
| Evaluation and Declaration of Result: | |
| Terminal Semester/ Year | 31.07.2020 |
| Intermediate Semester/ Year | 14.08.2020 |
# - If situation so demands, the universities can have Summer Vacations for 30 days from 01-06-2020 to 30-06-2020. In that case the teaching-learning through various modes can be held up to 15-05-2020 and subsequently Finalization of Dissertation etc. may be completed from 16-05-2020 to 31-05-2020.
2.The Academic Session 2020-21 may commence from 01.8.2020 for old students and from 01.09.2020 for fresh students.
The following calendar is suggested for the academic session 2020-2021:
2.The Academic Session 2020-21 may commence from 01.8.2020 for old students and from 01.09.2020 for fresh students.
The following calendar is suggested for the academic session 2020-2021:
| Admission Process | 01.08.2020 to 31.08.2020 |
| Commencement of Classes | 01.08.2020 |
| Students of 2nd/ 3rdyear | |
| Fresh batch (First Semester/Year) | 01.09.2020 |
| Conduct of Examinations | 01.01.2021 to 25.01.2021 |
| Commencement of Classes for Even Semester | 27.01.2021 |
| Dispersal of Classes | 25.05.2021 |
| Conduct of Examinations | 26.05.2021 to 25.06.2021 |
| Summer Vacations | 01.07.2021 to 30.07.2021 |
| Commencement of Next Academic Session | 02.08.2021 |
Some General Guidelines:
1. Universities may follow a 6-day week pattern.
2. Students be given exposure to laboratory assignments/ practical experiments through virtual laboratories, sharing of the recorded visuals of laboratory work and digital resources available for the purpose.
3. Link provided by MHRD for virtual laboratories to facilitate the students of science/ engineering/ technology streams may also be suitable for such purposes.
4. Develop virtual classroom and video conferencing facility and all teaching staff should be trained with the use of the technology.
5. Universities should prepare e-content/e-lab experiments and upload on their websites.
6. Strengthen the mechanism of mentor-mentee counselling.
7. Universities may devise a proforma to record the Travel/ Stay history of the staff and students for the period when they were away from the university due to lockdown.
8. Faculty should be adequately trained for the use of ICT and online teaching tools, so that they complete about 25% of the syllabus through online teaching and 75% syllabus through face to face teaching.
Note:
In view of present scenario and future uncertainties
Universities may adopt/ adapt and implement these Guidelines in a transparent manner by making alterations/ additions/ modifications/ amendments to deal with particular situation(s) in the best interest of students, educational institution and the entire education system,
University may adopt alternative modes of admission process, if otherwise legally tenable.
Educational institutions located at places where the Government (Centre/ State) have imposed restrictions on gathering of public, the institutions may plan accordingly.
In any case, the recommendations shall not cause any restrictions on the guidelines/directions issued by the appropriate Government/competent authority.
The report submitted by the Expert Committeeconstitutedby UGC was headed by Prof. R. C. Kuhad, Former Member, UGC and Vice Chancellor, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh, Haryana to deliberate and make recommendations on the issues related to the Examinations and the Academic Calendar to avoid academic loss and take appropriate measures for the future of students.
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