New Delhi, Jul 10 (IANS): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday opposed holding of examinations in the country and demanded that the students be passed on the basis of past academic performances.

"It is extremely unfair to conduct exams during the Covid-19 pandemic. The UGC must hear the voice of the students and academics. Exams should be cancelled and students promoted on basis of past performances," he said while supporting his party's "Speak Up for Students' campaign in favour of cancellation of exams in veiw of the coronavirus situation in the country.

The Congress said that the pandemic had exposed the digital divide in the country wherein millions of students lacked facilities like Internet connections and devices to avail of online learning and sit in exams.

"Is it fair in such circumstances that students be made to sit for exams?" asked the opposition party.

The University Grants Commission wants examinations in offline mode (by pen and paper) or online by the end of September 2020 to protect the academic interests of terminal-semester and final-year students.

According to the UGC, the special examinations can be conducted whenever possible so that the students do not face any inconvenience or loss. This provision will only be applicable as a one-time measure for the academic session 2019-20.