The University Grants Commission (UGC) has allowed the West Bengal government to conduct final semester/year exams in colleges and universities by October 18. However, the UGC has requested the state government to make sure that results are published preferably by October-end so that admission procedure to post graduate and PhD programs can start.
In its July 6 guidelines, the UGC had made it compulsory to complete final exams by the end of September 2020. But the government of West Bengal had opposed the decision. The chief minister of Bengal had even sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Later in August, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of UGC’s directive, saying that students cannot be promoted without giving the final-year exams, but states can ask for the dates to be deferred beyond the September 30 deadline. Following the Top Court’s decision, the Bengal government approached the UGC with new dates in October.
A letter sent by UGC Secretary Rajnish Jain to Manish Jain, higher education secretary in West Bengal, stated, “Keeping in view the health and safety of the students and also in the larger interest of their academic progression, the UGC has decided to accede to your request. Accordingly, the final year / terminal semester examinations in colleges and universities in the state will be completed by October 18.”
