On 30th May, DU released a list of measures that the colleges must take care of while conducting open book online examinations for final years beginning from July 1. The measures include holding mock-tests to make the students familiar with the pattern of online open book examinations, getting a proforma filled up which states that students are not using any unfair means during the exam, and notifying them through email and other modes about examination updates.
The university has also stated that if any student, due to any reasons misses out on giving the online open book examinations, he/she will be given a chance to appear for a pen-paper examination when the situation normalizes.
For the students residing in Jammu and Kashmir where there is a lack of internet and hardware facilities, the university is engaging Common Service Centres (CSC) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Students would be allowed to use their infrastructure wherever necessary while appearing for the exam. The services at CSCs are for free and there are more than two lakh functional CSCs located at almost all gram panchayats throughout India.
Although the decision has come after huge opposition from both the students and teachers but the university stated that due to the prevailing conditions, examination in the conventional method cannot be conducted as per the government norms, so after due deliberation, this mode has been adopted.
Online Open Book Examinations do not entirely require the internet except for downloading the question paper and uploading answer sheets after completion. Every student will also be signing an undertaking while submitting their answer sheets to check the use of unfair means.
Colleges are required to stay in touch with students via all modes, from e-mail to even WhatsApp messages to keep giving them information and assistance. Colleges will be inviting requests from students who need ICT infrastructure and they will be according allowed to avail facilities at their nearest Common Service Centre.
Each college will receive the question paper from the examination branch, 45 minutes prior to the session, and students have to answer the questions on plain A4 size paper. The total duration of the exam is three hours where two hours are for the completion of the test and one for submitting it on the portal.
The mock tests will be available for the students a week prior to the examination so they can make themselves accustomed to this mode.
