Punjab CM Urges PM To Reconsider UGC's Decision On Conducting Final Year Exams; 'Let The States Decide'

The University Grants Commission (UGC) on July 6 had announced that final-year examinations in universities will have to be conducted by the end of September, deferring the schedule from July in view of a spike in COVID-19 cases in the country.

Photo/PTI

New Delhi: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to review the decision to compulsorily conduct final year exams of college and university students amid the rising number of Coronavirus cases in the country. ALSO READ|CBSE Class 10, 12 Digital Marksheets To Be Made Available On UMANG; Here's All About It CM Amarinder also posted the pictures of the letter on Twitter and wrote, "Have written to urge PM Narendra Modi Ji to advise HRD Ministry and UGC to reconsider its decision to conduct mandatory exams for terminal classes in view of increasing COVID-19 cases. Rather UGC should go by its earlier guidelines of April 29 to let States decide on the issue."

"In view of this rising trend of cases, I am not sure whether the situation will be conducive for conducting offline physical examinations by September," CM Amarinder said.

 He opined, "Conducting physical examination will also involve huge logistical and operational challenges, especially in view of a large number of college/university buildings and hostels having been taken over by the District Administration for COVID-19 management purposes."

He has also sought permission to let the Punjab government adhere to its July 3 decision on cancellation of university and college examinations in view of rising novel coronavirus cases.

Punjab Govt requests cancellation of exams

Earlier, the Punjab Government announced the cancellation of the pending examinations of various classes of the

Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) that were earlier scheduled after July 15 and to promote students on the basis of performance in previous years and semesters.

“In addition, we have also allowed the conduct of examinations for the purpose of improvement of grades for interested students, once the situation becomes conducive,” he said. “This would ensure academic credibility, career opportunities, future prospects, and fair and equal opportunity for students in both urban and rural areas,” Singh stressed.

After the UGC issued new guidelines regarding the final year exams Delhi is the only state to cancel the exams and has announced to provide degree on the basis of previous semester marksheets.