Pune: The Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) has made a significant decision to offer a second chance to students whose Permanent Registration Numbers (PRNs) were blocked due to their inability to complete their degree courses within the stipulated time as per University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines.

In a move aimed at helping students with backlogs, the university’s Academic Council decided during its meeting on Saturday (September 14) to allow such students to sit for their remaining exams and complete their degrees in the 2024-25 academic year.

The Examination and Evaluation Board Director, Dr. Mahesh Kakde, had previously communicated with UGC officials, resulting in the recommendation to allow final-year students with backlogs to appear for their exams. The Academic Council meeting elaborated on this proposal, and it was decided to grant two exam attempts to PRN-blocked students.

Dr. Kakde highlighted that SPPU is the only university in India to offer such students two opportunities to clear their exams. "We will unblock the PRNs of eligible students and ensure they can appear for their pending exams," he said.

The examination department will work with college principals to verify eligible students, who must reach out to their respective institutions to complete the formalities for appearing in the exams.

This decision is expected to benefit a large number of students. Over 7,000 students who were previously PRN-blocked will now have the chance to complete their degrees, following a similar relief offered to 1,27,000 students last year.

While the relief is primarily for PRN-blocked students, there have been calls for extending this opportunity to all students whose education was left incomplete due to other circumstances.