Delhi govt cancels semester, final exams of state univs; DU undecided

The Delhi government has decided to cancel all forthcoming semester and finals exams of universities under it due to the COVID-19 situation, said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in a press conference on Saturday.

He said that conducting exams for classes that were not conducted was difficult.

He pointed out how schools had to suspend exams amidst the coronavirus outbreak and that Delhi government decided to promote class 9 and class 11 students without exams. The same was done for class 10 and 12 students after the Delhi government wrote to MHRD. However he added that the matter was a bit complicated in case of universities.

“Delhi Government believes that unprecedented times require unprecedented measures, and hence has decided to cancel all semester and final year exams in state Universities,” he said, NDTV reported.

Students will be promoted to the next year or semester based on their previous assessment marks. Final year students too will be awarded degrees based on their previous assessments. Sisodia instructed universities to devise an evaluation formula based on which students should be promoted.

The decision was taken in the best interest of students as the situation was not viable to conduct exams, while it was also necessary to award degrees to students, enabling them to apply for higher studies.

Students enrolled in state universities will breathe a sigh of relief following the decision, except Delhi University students who will have wait for decision on exams with uncertainty. Delhi University is a central university and hence does not fall in the purview of the Delhi Government.

DU has postponed the final year and semester examinations to August. A petition seeking cancellation of exams has been filed in the Supreme Court.