All universities exams Guidelines by UGC

UGC Guidelines on Examinations and Academic Calendar for the Universities in View of COVID-19 and Subsequent Lockdown;

Guidelines issued in presence of Union HRD Minister

                                                             New Delhi

                                                    29th April, 2020

In view of Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, the University Grants Commission 

constituted an Expert Committee 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. 

The Expert Committee was headed by Prof. R. C. Kuhad, Former Member, UGC and Vice 

Chancellor, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh, Haryana along with other members.

The Commission at its meeting held on 27.4.2020 accepted the Report of the Committee and 

approved the Guidelines on Examinations and Academic Calendar.

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 main recommendations in the guidelines issued by UGC today 

1. 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.

2. Terminal Semester Students: exams will be held in the month of July.

3. 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.

4. A COVID-19 cell in the UGC to be created for faster decision making.

The highlights of the Guidelines are as under:

Guidelines are advisory in nature.

University may chart out its own plan of action taking into consideration the issues 

pertaining to COVID – 19 Pandemic

Ensure Social Distancing.

EXAMINATIONS

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.

Universities may conduct Terminal / Intermediate Semester / Year examinations in 

offline / online mode, as per their Ordinances/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.

Terminal semester/ year examinations for PG/ UG courses/ programmes may be 

conducted by universities as suggested in the academic calendar. The timing of the 

examination may be considered appropriately by the universities, and examination may 

be conducted keeping in mind the guidelines of “social distancing”.

For intermediate semester/year students, the universities may conduct 

examinations,after making a comprehensive assessment of their level of preparedness, 

residential status of the students, status of COVID-19 pandemic spread in different 

regions / state and other factors.

In case the situation does not appear to be normal in view of COVID-19, in order to 

maintain “social distancing”, safety and health of the students, grading of the students 

could be composite of 50% marks on the basis of the pattern of internal evaluation 

adopted by the universities and the remaining 50% marks can be awarded on the basis 

of performance in previous semester only (if available). The internal evaluation can be 

continuous evaluation, prelims, mid-semester, internal evaluation or whatever name is 

given for student progression.

In the situations where previous semester or previous year marks are not available, 

particularly in the first year of annual pattern of examinations, 100% evaluation may be 

done on the basis of internal assessments. 

If the student wishes to improve the grades, he/she may appear in special exams for 

such subjects during next semester.

This provision for intermediate semester examinations is only for the current academic 

session (2019-20) in view of COVID-19 pandemic, while maintaining safety and health 

of all the stakeholders and sanctity and quality of examinations.

Period of lockdown may be treated as ‘deemed to be attended’ by all the students/ 

research scholars.

Adopt appropriate strategies to facilitate the UG/ PG students pursuing Projects/ 

Dissertations. Universities may consider to assign review-based/ secondary data-based 

projects or software-driven projects, instead of laboratory-based experiments or field/ 

survey-based assignments to these students.

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.

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.

Extension of six months period to the M.Phil. or Ph.D. students.

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.

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