The University of Calcutta is preparing to implement a revised assessment system for students entering its four-year undergraduate programmes in the 2026–27 academic session. The changes include the introduction of a grade-based evaluation method and the return of marks for classroom attendance.

The university announced the decision following approval by its syndicate. Under the new arrangement, students will be assessed using grade points in every semester, beginning with the first semester of their undergraduate studies. According to Vice-Chancellor Asutosh Ghosh, the initiative aligns the university’s evaluation practices with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and brings them closer to the framework followed by institutions across India.

How the New Grading System Will Work

The university has outlined a grading scale that links students’ examination marks to corresponding grades and grade points.

The revised structure is intended to provide students with a standardised measure of academic achievement throughout their degree programmes. The grade-point system will apply to newly admitted undergraduate students from the 2026–27 academic session.

College Heads Support the Changes

Principals from affiliated colleges have expressed support for the proposed reforms, noting that a structured grading system could help students and their families better understand academic performance and identify areas requiring improvement.

Rumpa Das, principal of Maheshtala College, highlighted the potential benefits of establishing clearer performance benchmarks. She believes the revised framework could encourage students to set higher academic goals while making it easier to assess their progress. The system would also help bring Calcutta University’s assessment practices in line with those of other universities nationally.

Sonali Banerjee Jash, principal of Netaji Nagar Day College, also welcomed the move towards greater transparency in academic evaluation. She emphasised that a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) could offer a more structured picture of students’ overall performance.

She further supported the decision to restore attendance marks, pointing to persistent concerns over low classroom participation. In her view, incorporating attendance into the assessment process could encourage students to attend classes more regularly.

A Dual Focus on Academic Performance and Attendance

The university’s latest initiative combines changes to academic evaluation with an effort to improve classroom engagement. While the grading framework is expected to make performance assessment more systematic, the restoration of attendance marks is aimed at addressing concerns about student participation.

Together, these measures represent a change in how undergraduate students will be assessed at Calcutta University, beginning with those enrolled in the four-year degree programmes in 2026–27.