The University Grants Commission has released a notice asking all the universities not to conduct offline exams in May and asked to decide on conducting online exams after assessing local conditions. The Notice by UGC is made available on the official website that is ugc.ac.in. The commission stressed in its letter to all universities and colleges that during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the health and safety of everyone is most important as directed

The Conduct of Online exams is allowed only if, universities ensure they are prepared in all respects and adhere to the directions and guidelines issued by the Central Government, state governments, the Education Ministry, and the UGC.

University Grants Commission Guidelines:
1. Education Ministry had directed all centrally-funded institutions (IITs, NITs, IIITs, Central Universities, and many more) not to conduct offline exams in May.
2. Decisions on Examinations will be reviewed again in the first week of June 2021.
3. Physical Gathering to be avoided in the Campuses at all times.

The UGC Notice states, “Keeping in view the current scenario of COVID-19, it is requested that Higher Education Institutions may keep the offline examinations in abeyance during May to avoid physical gathering at the campuses and also provide much-needed relief to students, faculty, and staff.”

The Ministry of Education's directions on exams were only for centrally-funded institutions. However, UGC’s advisory is for all the universities that come under its umbrella, including state-run and private universities.

Many states and Central universities have already postponed offline exams for undergraduate and postgraduate students in view of Covid-19.