According to sources, the HRD Parliamentary Standing Committee meeting, which was held on Monday, August 10 decided that there would be no zero year in colleges this year, meaning that the final-year exams will be held at the end of the year.

Earlier, during the University Grants Commission (UGC) hearing in the Supreme Court, the later questioned the decisions of Delhi and Maharashtra governments to cancel final year exams of state universities amid the COVID-19 pandemic, saying they were against the rules.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan that states cannot change the rules of the UGC as the statutory body only has the power to prescribe rules for conferring degree. Mehta argued that not conducting exams will not be in the interest of students as degrees may not be recognised if the states would act unilaterally.

The apex court was hearing a batch of pleas which have challenged the July 6 directive to all the universities and colleges to conduct final year examinations by September 30 amid the Covid-19 pandemic. During the hearing conducted through video-conferencing, Mehta informed the bench about the decisions of Delhi and Maharashtra to cancel final year exams of state universities.

He said that the UGC would file its response on the affidavits filed by Maharashtra and Delhi in the matter. The bench granted time to the UGC to file response and posted the matter for further hearing on August 14.

Meanwhile, a final plan is yet to be made regarding the reopening of schools and the decision would be taken after consultation with the states. Regarding online classes in schools, a suggestion calling for no online classes up to class 3 has been given at the meeting. Further, as per the suggestion, there should be limited online classes for classes 3 to 7 and full online classes for classes 8 and above.

Source: India Today

Read: UGC hearing in SC: Students must continue to prepare for exams, says SG

Also read: AICTE to Bombay HC: Have instructed colleges to conduct final year exams as per UGC guidelines