The University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced that the final semester (or final year) examination for graduating batches shall not be cancelled and has advised institutions to conduct the exams by the end of September. The regulator has said that these exams can be conducted in online, offline or blended mode, in a meeting held on Monday.

The regulator also said that during the current pandemic time, it is important to safeguard the principles of health, safety, fair and equal opportunity for students and that the need to conduct the final semester examinations was based on maintaining credibility. "The terminal semester(s)/ final year(s) examinations be conducted by the universities/ institutions by the end of September, 2020 in offline (pen and paper)/online/ blended (online + offline) mode. At the same time, it is very crucial to ensure academic credibility, career opportunities and future progress of students globally. Academic evaluation of students is very important milestone in any education system. The performance in examinations gives confidence and satisfaction to the students and is a reflection of competence, performance and credibility that is necessary for global acceptability. In case a student is unable to attend the end September final semester, final year exam, colleges and universities may offer him or her another opportunity as and when feasible so that a student is not put to any inconvenience or disadvantage. The above provision shall be applicable only for the current academic session 2019-20 as a one-time measure," the UGC mentioned in a statement.

A senior UGC official mentioned that in the interest of students and academic credibility, cancelling the final semester exams is out of the question. He added that how the institutions want to do it and when they can conduct the exams is up to them, but they will have to conduct exams.