COVID-19: UGC issues guidelines for new academic calendar, university exams

new academic session for freshers may begin in universities from September and for already enrolled students in August in wake of COVID-19 outbreak in country, University Grants Commission (UGC) told universities on Wednesday.

Detailing guidelines for examinations and academic calendar for universities in view of COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, commission said exams for final semester students be conducted in July.

"Intermediate students will be graded based on internal assessment of present and previous semester. In states where COVID-19 situation has rmalised, re will be exams in month of July. For terminal semester students, exams will be held in July," UGC said.

"Universities may follow a six-day week pattern and devise proforma to record travel or stay history of staff and students for lockdown period. Extension of six months will be granted to MPhil, PhD students and viva-voice be conducted through video conference," it added.

commission clarified that guidelines are advisory in nature and varsities may chalk out ir own plan taking into consideration issues pertaining to COVID-19 pandemic.