On 29th April 2020, the University Grants Commission (UGC) issued the guidelines related to examination and the academic calendar. Later, due to the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic and in the concern for students safety, Maharashtra’s Minister of Higher and Technical Education appointed a state-level experts committee to consider the current scenario and to come up with a decision for the examination.
On 6th May 2020, Uday Samant, Maharashtra’s Minister of Higher and Technical Education, announced that students of diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate (excluding medical, agriculture and animal husbandry universities) will be directly promoted to next year, except students from final year.
However, this decision was not appreciated by the Mumbai University Students and Other University Students, and demanded the cancellation for the final-year exam, as well.
In the view of the students demand and considering the health of all students, social distancing and safety norms, Uday Samant, wrote a letter to UGC stating that the examination for final year students in Maharashtra should not be conducted this year.
He wrote, “In view of COVID-19 pandemic situation in Maharashtra and considering the feasibility of conducting the exams of approximately 8 lakh to 10 lakhs students from all across Maharashtra and India by maintaining all safety protocols seems very challenging and may endanger the safety and health of the students. Hence I am of the opinion that the terminal (final) examinations should not be conducted this year.”
“I hereby request your good self to kindly consider the option of promoting students without conducting exams of last year for UG/PG and grade them as per UGC guidelines. Request to please kindly issue guidelines in this regard for the betterment of students.”
Also, Yuva Sena, the youth wing of Shiv Sena, has also urged the University Grants Commission(UGC) to cancel the examinations of the final year as well, due to COVID-19.
Varun Sardesai, Secretary of Yuva Sena, wrote, “Sir, we are facing an unprecedented situation in the form of COVID-19 and the entire nation has been in lockdown for over a month. While we have taken a decision of cancelling all examinations except that of the Final Semester, the fate of students studying in the final year hangs in balance.”
“These students studying in the final year are under immense stress and pressure as to how their examinations would be conducted and would they pose a risk to their health. Hence, as per directions of Shivsena Leader and Maharashtra State Cabinet Minister Shri. Aaditya Thackeray, we sincerely request you to consider cancelling the examinations of Final Semester as well.”