New Delhi: Universities will reopen in August and the academic session for new students will commence from September, the Expert Committee of University Grants Commission (UGC) said on Wednesday.
Universities have been closed across the country since March amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Besides the academic calendar, the Commission has also issued guidelines on examinations.
These UGC guidelines in view of of COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown were issued in presence of Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal in New Delhi on Wednesday.
GUIDELINES
1. Intermediate Semester Students: Will be graded based on internal assessment of the present and previous semester. In states where the COVID-19 situation has normalized, there will be exams in the month of July.
2. Terminal Semester Students: exams will be held in the month of July.
3. A COVID-19 cell will be constituted in every university which will be empowered to solve the issues of students related to academic calendar and examinations.
4. A COVID-19 cell in the UGC to be created for faster decision making.
The Commission, however, clarified that the guidelines are advisory in nature and universities may chalk out their own plan taking into consideration issues pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic.
ACADEMIC CALENDAR FOR 2019-2020
| Start of Even Semester | 01.01.2020 |
| Suspension of Classes | 16.03.2020 |
| Continuation of Teaching-Learning through various modes such as Online Learning / Distance Learning / Social Media (WhatsApp / YouTube) / E-mails / Video Conferencing / Mobile Apps / SWAYAMPRABHA Channels on DTH etc. | 16.03.2020 to 31.05.2020 |
| Finalisation of Dissertation/ Project Work/ Internship Reports/ E-labs/ Completion of Syllabus/ Internal Assessment/ Assignment/ Students Placement Drive etc. | 01.06.2020 to 15.06.2020 |
| Summer Vacations# | 16.06.2020 to 30.06.2020 |
| Conduct of Examinations: Terminal Semester/ Year Intermediate Semester/Year | 01.07.2020 to 15.07.2020 16.07.2020 to 31.07.2020 |
| Evaluation and Declaration of Result: Terminal Semester/ Year Intermediate Semester/ Year | 31.07.2020 14.08.2020 |
NEW ACADEMIC SESSION 2020-2021
| Admission Process | 01.08.2020 to 31.08.2020 | |
| Commencement of Classes Students of 2nd/ 3rdyear Fresh batch (First Semester/Year) | 01.08.2020 01.09.2020 | |
| Conduct of Examinations | 01.01.2021 to 25.01.2021 | |
| Commencement of Classes for Even Semester | 27.01.2021 | |
| Dispersal of Classes | 25.05.2021 | |
| Conduct of Examinations | 26.05.2021 to 25.06.2021 | |
| Summer Vacations | 01.07.2021 to 30.07.2021 | |
| Commencement of Next Academic Session | 02.08.2021 | |
