UGC Exam Guidelines should be advisory not mandatory says Maharashtra Education Minister

Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Minister Uday Samant have recently written a letter to Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’. In letter, Maharashtra Higher Education Minister argued saying that revised University Grants Commission or UGC Exam Guidelines about exam schedules and academic calendar should be “advisory” and t “mandatory”.  revised UGC Exam Guidelines were released by University Grant Commission on July 6, 2020. UGC Exam Guidelines sparked discontent among students across country. Read on to kw more about it.

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UGC Exam Guidelines: What was revised?

As per revised UGC Exam Guidelines State, educational departments were suggested to conduct final year university exams by September-end in online, offline via pen-and-paper method, or in blended online and offline mode. However, Maharashtra State Government at this point has decided to cancel final year exams altoger. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had previously written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to direct supreme regulatory bodies of country to “endorse decision of state governments”. 

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Across country students and parents are keeping an eye out for UGC exam news. However, latest UGC Exam Guidelines have sparked discontent among students across India. This is fourth time that UGC Final Year Exams have been rescheduled, however, it is still unclear if y will be conducted. Students and parents have taken to Twitter to express ir frustration. In mid of June revised UGC Exams Guidelines were released stating that UGC Final Year Exams have been cancelled. However, on July 6 as per UGC news, exams were rescheduled for end of September 2020.

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Maharashtra Higher Education Minister News

As per reports of a media portal, Minister Uday Samant argued that Maharashtra government’s decision was in line with April guidelines by UGC. Thus, it had lend automy to universities across state to make modifications and deal with situation, keeping in mind best interest of students. He added that conducting UGC final year exams for almost more than 10 lakh students seems preposterous and infeasible task. In spite of this if UGC exams are conducted it would endanger wellbeing of students, teachers, parents and even supporting staff. Aside from Maharashtra, states such as Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Haryana and Rajasthan have already cancelled all higher education exams as y didn’t expect revised UGC Exam Guidelines.

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