Lack of clarity at the level of the Ministry of Higher and Technical Education in Maharashtra, universities in the state are unable to make final decisions on examination mode.
In Vidarbha, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, and Gondwana University, Gadchiroli issued notifications for offline examinations, but Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU) has not taken any decision on it so far.
RTMNU will finalize the issue in the meeting of the Board of Examinations and Evaluation (BOEE).
This year in March, Minister Uday Samant had asked universities to take their own decisions regarding the mode of examinations. Accordingly, Mumbai University had conducted almost 80% examinations online. Pune University, too, had conducted most of the examinations online except for engineering, pharmacy, and some others.
RTMNU too decided to hold examinations in a blended mode. Meanwhile, in April, Samant changed its stand and told universities to have examinations in offline mode only. He wanted the examinations in offline mode to be conducted in a traditional manner (those used held before the coronavirus pandemic). In fact, he specified the period for holding examinations–from June 1 and June 30.
RTMNU had to postpone the examinations. North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon expressed its inability to hold examinations in offline mode in the traditional way, so decided to go offline but with Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ).
RTMNU may hold its BoEE meet by May 18 and then take a final decision on the mode of examination.