COVID-19 Lockdown: Modi Govt Asks CBSE, NCERT, Colleges To Revise Academic Calendar

New Delhi: Following the Prime Minister’s announcement of a 21-day lockdown across the country, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) has decided to revise the academic calendar for schools and colleges this year.

The HRD Ministry sent a circular to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT), the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), asking them to draft an alternate academic calendar.

Confirming the decision, B.V.R.C. Purushottam, Private Secretary to HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said, “On the orders of the minister, we sent a circular to all the states and autonomous bodies last night. It was based on the orders of the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs). Autonomous bodies and NCERT have been asked to draft alternate academic calendars.”

The circular also stated that MHRD and all its autonomous bodies will remain closed for three weeks, while the officers would work from home.

The order sent to states and autonomous bodies read, “In compliance of the order dated 24.3.2020 issued by MHA, all offices of MHRD and its autonomous institutions and subordinate offices shall remain closed for a period of three weeks. However, all officers and staff shall be working from home as per the said order.”

Traditionally, CBSE schools begin their new sessions in the first week of April. However, this year schools cannot reopen in the first week of April due to the lockdown in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Modi government has also asked CBSE, the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), and the National Testing Agency (NTA) to reschedule the entrance exams. Till now, only the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) date has been rescheduled.