UGC asked to clarify final-year exam mode

nNEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the University Grants Commission (UGC) to make clear the mode of final year examinations to be conducted by various universities — multiple choice questions (MCQ), open choices or assignments or presentations.

Educational institutions were shut across the country in the last week of March to curb the coronavirus spread in the country. Various examinations conducted by universities and higher education institutions have been suspended since then. Early this month, the UGC had announced that end-of-term semester exams will be held in September.

Several students have challenged the Delhi University’s decision to conduct online openbook exams and the UGC’S decision asking varsities to conduct exams for final-year students throughout the country.

Justice Prathiba M Singh, while hearing a bunch of pleas by students, also asked the UGC to clarify on the differences about the mode of examination since the April guidelines by the higher education body mentioned other forms of assessment. However, the fresh guidelines issued by the UGC on July 6 mentioned only online, offline and blend of both.

Appearing for the UGC, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said there was no divergence internally between the Union HRD ministry and UGC. The UGC submitted that the guidelines do not permit internal assessment for evaluating final year students as it puts credibility of the system at stake.

The counsel for DU, Sachin Datta, said that they were conducting the exams strictly in accordance with the instructions given by the UGC.