MoE directs central universities, IITs, NITs to postpone offline exams

Amid the ongoing pandemic situation, devastating increase in the numbers of the novel coronavirus and restrictions imposed to contain the virus spread, many universities across the country already deferred semester and entrance exams.

COVID-19 Impact: The Ministry of Education on May 3 directed all the centrally-funded institutions including Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs). to postpone offline exams scheduled for the month of May. However, these institutions can continue with online exams. In a letter addressed to heads of all centrally-funded institutions, Higher Education secretary Amit Khare said the decision on examinations will be reviewed again in the first week of June 2021.

The education ministry said, “The institutions have been further advised to ensure that if anyone in the institution needs any assistance it should be provided immediate possible help so that he/she comes out of the distress at the earliest. All Institutions have to encourage eligible persons to go for vaccination and ensure that everyone follows COVID -19 appropriate behavior to remain safe.”

Amid the ongoing pandemic situation, devastating increase in the numbers of the novel coronavirus and restrictions imposed to contain the virus spread, many universities across the country already deferred semester and entrance exams. The Delhi University recently postponed final-year undergraduate and postgraduate exams till June 1. Students of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Uttar Pradesh, urged the Vice-Chancellor to cancel final-year exams and announce results on the basis of internal assessments and assignments.

The JNU - Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Association (JNUSU) in April wrote to the University Grants Commission (UGC), urging it to suspend exams in view of COVID-19. "We, therefore, request that you issue a directive for universities across the country to suspend all examinations, submissions, presentations, and other evaluation activities happening at the moment taking into consideration the grave situation the country is undergoing," the JNUSU had said in its letter.

Last year, the Commission issued fresh guidelines on examinations on July 6.

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