Mumbai: In a rare concession, Maharashtra govt has allowed nearly 3,000 engineering students to be promoted despite not clearing their previous semester exams. The decision, described as an “exceptional measure”, aims to prevent academic loss for students affected by delayed admissions and pandemic-related disrutions.
Under the directive, students who failed the second semester will be eligible for the fifth semester while those who did not clear the fourth semester will advance to the seventh. The eligibility criteria will be determined based on their performance in the winter session exams of 2024-25, rather than the summer session of 2023-24.
To streamline the transition, the state has mandated that winter and summer exams for 2024-25 be conducted together in the summer session. Students benefiting from this provision must complete coursework from previous semesters and submit an undertaking to colleges.
“This carry-on decision is a one-time measure, taken solely in the interest of students to ensure they do not lose an academic year,” said higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil. “However, this should not compromise academic standards in any way.” The move follows reports highlighting the plight of students awaiting revaluation. The exemption applies to students from batches affected by the pandemic, including postponed entrance exams and late college commencement.