Patna University

Patna University has decided to conduct all examinations before May 2015 and declare results by June to streamline the academic calendar.

Pro-vice-chancellor Ranjit Kumar Verma said on Wednesday: “The university has decided to schedule the examination calendar so as to streamline the academic calendar.”

The university administration convened a meeting on Wednesday with all college principals, deans of different faculties and heads of different departments to decide on the academic calendar.

Sources in the university said the examination season would start from the second week of February.

Third-year undergraduate and second-year postgraduate students will first appear in their final examinations in February. Next, second-year undergraduate students will sit for their examinations in March. The first-year postgraduate students will also have their examinations at the same time.

Finally, the first-year undergraduate examinations will start in the third week of April.

A senior official said: “Based on the academic calendar decided on Wednesday, all examinations will be completed by the third week of April. In case of any problem, examinations will be held in May. But according to the vice-chancellor’s directives, all examinations have to be completed by May so that all the results can be declared in the mid or last week of June.”

The new examination schedule includes both traditional (regular) and vocational courses and is aimed at allowing the administration to start its new academic session latest by the first week of July.

Officials said finalising the examination schedule has a two-fold purpose.

First, the students can have clear idea of when their examination will start and can start preparations accordingly. Second, it will push the teachers to complete their syllabus in time.

Amitesh Sharma, a history student of Patna College, said: “We heard that the university administration has finalised the examination schedule. If we know from before when our examinations will start, it will give us adequate time to prepare. This move will also ensure results are out on time — that would mean we will have enough time to apply in other universities for higher studies.”

Examinations of the last academic session of Patna University were delayed because of the general election.

Vice-chancellor Y.C. Simahadri, since taking charge of the university, has stressed on streamlining of the academic calendar.

The administration, in its effort to complete syllabus on time, has also asked college principals, heads of departments and deans to organise extra classes to complete the course curriculum.