'Can Alternatives Like MCQs, Assignments Be Used For Final Year University Exams?': Delhi HC Asks UGC

The Delhi High Court was hearing a plea challenging Delhi University's decision to hold open-book exams for long answer format.

Representational Image: PTI

New Delhi: Delhi High Court has asked the University Grants Commission (UGC) to clarify whether alternative methods can be used for conducting final exams instead of the traditional long answer writing format.  Mentioning the alternatives, Delhi HC asked the UGC to reveal if the impending final year examinations in universities can be conducted on the basis of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ), assignments, open choices and presentations, instead of the traditional method. The high court was hearing a plea that challenges Delhi University's decision to conduct Open Book Examination (OBE) for final year undergraduate courses that will be in a long-answer form. The Delhi University contended that the online exams are being held according to the UGC guidelines that have made final year examinations mandatory. For this, colleges and universities have been given three options - online, offline, and a blended mode. Justice Prathiba M Singh has asked the UGC to elaborate on the guidelines that were issued in April, as they mentioned the format of examinations that can be followed by a college for conducting final year exams. During the hearing on Wednesday, the UGC stated that the guidelines do not allow for internal assessment to be considered for evaluating final year students because it can raise doubts on the credibility of the system. The high court will be hearing the matter again on July 24. (With Agency Inputs) WATCH | Monsoon Fury: Heavy rains in Delhi-NCR lead to major traffic disruption