UGC Guidelines on Academic Calendar for UG/ PG

UGC Guidelines on Academic Calendar for the First Year of Under-Graduate and Post-Graduate Students of the Universities for the Session 2020-21 in View of COVID-19 Pandemic

The University Grants Commission taking a note of the COVID-19 pandemic constituted an Expert Committee in April, 2020 to safeguard the interests of the academic fraternity in general and students in particular to ensure health, safety and security of the students, faculty and staff and also to continue academic activities, conducting the examinations and declaration of results, facilitating the students to participate in further admissions, placement processes, research and training etc. and charting out a plan for the next academic session.

The Expert Committee deliberated on various issues and also consulted other stake holders and noted that the lockdown has been imposed by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the State Governments to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and also the results of the Class XII Board examinations are likely to be declared in the month of July 2020.

The Expert Committee submitted its report in April, 2020, based on which the UGC issued the Guidelines on 29.04.2020.

The University Grants Commission in June 2020 noted that the number of COVID-19 cases was rising exponentially and as per the reports the number would increase further. In view of the then prevalent situation and projected growth of cases due to COVID-19 pandemic, it was not feasible to conduct the examination even in the month of July 2020. Accordingly, the University Grants Commission requested the Expert Committee to review the Guidelines dated 29.04.2020, in view of emerging COVID-19 pandemic situation.

The Expert Committee again deliberated on the specific issues and also after due consultation with other stakeholders submitted its report in July, 2020, based on which the UGC issued the Guidelines on 06.07.2020.

The University Grants Commission in August 2020 requested the Expert Committee to revisit the guidelines dated 29.04.2020 and 06.07.2020 and suggest a revised Admissions and Academic Calendar, and other connected matters, for the first year of UG and PG programmes for the session 2020-2021.

The Commission at its emergent meeting held on 21.09.2020 considered the Report of the Expert Committee and based on the Report approved the “UGC Guidelines on Academic Calendar for the First Year of Under-Graduate and Post-Graduate Students of the Universities for the Session 2020-21 in View of COVID-19 Pandemic”