Covid-19 Impact: Deputy CM Manish Sisodia Cancels All Delhi State University Exams Including Finals

Delhi High Court had pulled up DU for last-minute postponements and the lack of transparency in their plan for these final-year assessments.

File: Manish Sisodia (Getty)

New Delhi: The Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government has taken the decision to cancel all state university examinations.  The cancelled exams including final-year external assessments. The universities will have to come up with suitable alternate options for the evaluation of students. Announcing the government's decision on Saturday, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said "Delhi government has decided to cancel all Delhi state university exams including final exams in view of Covid-19. The degree will be awarded based on evaluation parameters decided by the universities." Talking about central universities like Delhi University and JNU, the Deputy CM said, "It is up to the Centre to decide whether to cancel exams or not. We have asked the central government to take the current circumstances into consideration. However, it is up to them to cancel exams in Delhi University, JNU and other central universities."

In light of the major disruptions caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, Delhi govt has decided to cancel all Delhi state university exams including final exams https://t.co/g4SFLqaBQK

— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) July 11, 2020

The Delhi Government decision has come in when Delhi University's final-year exams have become a major concern. The University had decided to conduct exams for final-year students in an online open-book format. However, the plan was not readily welcomed by students and professors as several technical issues were being anticipated. DU had postponed final year exams twice - from July 1 to July 10 and then again until further notice. The UGC too decided that final year examinations be conducted while following all precautionary measures. On the first day of mock online exams, Students and DU Teachers' Association has reported several serious concerns regarding login credentials not working, wrong question paper for courses being uploaded and other technical glitches, while once again urging the university to cancel exams. Delhi High Court had also pulled up the university for its last-minute postponements and lack of transparency in their plan for these final-year assessments. The Delhi University had last informed the court that the exams will be conducted after August 15.