The Gujarat Government reversed its earlier decision to conduct final year exams at all universities and colleges in Gujarat following directives from the Union Government on Wednesday. The state government has now postponed university and college examinations.

Addressing the media, Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama said, The Union Education Secretary has issued guidelines for all the states to put on hold all the examinations of universities, looking at the prevailing situation of Covid-19.

He said that this decision was taken by the Union Department of Human Resources Development so that the exams conducted across the states are consistent.

The government announced earlier on Wednesdays the decision to permit universities and colleges to take the final year exams, while the Gujarat Technological University (GTU), which was due to begin Thursday, had declared examinations dates. The Congress, however, objected to the cabinet decision and called for mass promotion of all students.

The GTU had even guaranteed that it would observe social distancing, use masks and sanitizers, and make further arrangements across its 350 facilities.

The GTU had offered students three options – class exams, online examinations, and special tests to improve the situation with coronavirus.

Students living in containment areas or not prepared to take a classroom exam were allowed to either take online exams or take special exams, which should be announced later.