UGC Directs Universities & Colleges to Postpone all Offline Exams Scheduled for May: Releases Notice


The University Grants Commission on Monday requested that all offline examinations be postponed during the month of May 2021 in order to avoid physical gatherings on campuses and to provide much-needed relief to students, faculty, and staff who are currently engaged in fighting COVID-19 in some way.

"Considering the current scenario of COVID-19, it is requested that Higher Education Institutions postpone the offline examinations during May 2021 to avoid physical gatherings on campuses and also to provide much-needed relief to the students, faculty, and staff who are currently occupied in fighting COVID-19 in one way or another," the UGC said in a letter sent to vice-chancellors.

UGC also stated that HIE can decide on online exams after assessing local conditions and ensuring that they are prepared in all respects in accordance with Covid protocols and safety measures issued by the central/state government, ministry of education, or UGC.

Concerning online examinations, the UGC has left it up to educational institutions to decide whether or not to hold them after assessing local conditions. Online exams can be held if institutions are fully prepared and follow all advisories and guidelines issued by the Central and respective state governments, Ministry of Education, or UGC to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The education ministry ordered earlier this week that all centrally-funded institutions, including central universities, Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), and National Institutes of Technology (NIT), postpone all offline exams scheduled for May.