No final year exams for Maharashtra students, new formula for promotion

Read | Why are students across India opposing online exams?

Earlier an official statement quoted the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray as saying that “it is becoming clear that examinations cannot be held in July”, but the uncertainty in this regard should be ended and all options should be explored.

Students too had opposed the holding of exams in Maharashtra. The state is among the most affected areas across the country. India has over 1.90 lakh cases. India is at 7th spot across the world among the worst-hit by Covid-19.

Students had the demand to be promoted based on internal assessment earlier as they claimed that traveling for exams was dangerous among these circumstances. The state education minister had also written to the HRD ministry raising students’ concerns. In a petition filed earlier at change.org, students had written,  “even if social distancing is maintained during the exam, students might gather together before and after the exam,” read the petition.

The state, following the guidelines of UGC, had decided to promote first-year students based on internal marking and second-year students on the basis of internal marking and previous year performance; with 50 per cent weightage to each.