To,
The President
The Institute Of Chartered Accountants of India
New Delhi-110001
Subject; Reconsider your decision to go ahead with the Mid-year 2020 Exams from 29th of July.
Dear Sir,
Every year our Institute conducts the examinations twice in a year. We conduct the first examinations in the first week of May & the Second one from the first week of November. We are conducting such examinations since long.
This year, our nation is facing an extraordinary situation and it requires extraordinary resolutions to face a pandemic COVID- 19. We have already decided in the interest of the well-being of students and rescheduled our exams to be held from 29th July 2020 to 16th August 2020.
This postponement was very much required but still the clouds of the Pandemic are there and we are really taking the decisions of the well-being of students, we should revisit our decision to go ahead with the July- August 2020 examination. You are requested to consider the following keeping in mind the possibility of the exposure of Corona to our lacks of students, feelings of the parents and as a whole for the nation where our decision may trigger some of the after-effects like Delhi religious gathering problem, Migration problem, Administrative lapse and so on. Our Institute should not be a part of any such decision that may be harmful to students as well as to the Nation.
1. The present situation and the future of the Covid-19 cannot be predicted. We can only make sensible decisions at this juncture. The Government of India is also doing the same and yesterday and guidelines for Unlock 1 were issued by The Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India.
2. This is to inform you that the said Unlock -1 has not provided any dates for the opening of educational institutions, schools, coaching Institute and simply deferred the decision on Phase 2 of the Unlock in July 2020. You are requested to reconsider your decision in the above reference that our Institute is dependent on the school premises for conducting our examinations. Further, there are numerous rights in the hand s of state Governments, Local Governments and district administration to place their restrictions on the travel of the people and to grant permission for conduct of any activity at their localised area. For your reference, a clause as provided in the notification is as follows. “Phase II Schools, colleges, educational/ training/ coaching institutions etc., will be opened after consultations with States and UTs. State Governments/ UT administrations are being advised to hold consultations at the institution level with parents and other stakeholders. Based on the feedback, a decision on the re-opening of these institutions will be taken in July 2020. MoH FW will prepare SOP for these institutions. Further, The Home Secretary in his letter to all the Chief Secretaries of the state and the administrators have specifically mentioned monitoring the clause related to the opening of schools, colleges and Educations Institution.
3. As per information available as given by the reputed news agencies with experts opinion that coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases are projected to rise through June and July, enforcing the use of masks and social distancing norms and isolating everyone with cough and fever is the only protection against infection. Community participation in the enforcement of masks, self-quarantine and isolation of everyone with symptoms of Covid-19 even without testing is the way forward.
4. We are having limited Centres across India and fewer centres at Outside India. The students are from the various parts of the country and spread over to the villages, towns & municipalities. Our student has to travel for exams days to the nearest cities. They may have to travel the cities by crossing state borders. At present, there is a mechanism of Quarantine of the people crossing the sate boundaries. Further student stays with their relatives and uses local transport. Is it possible in the present scenario to visit any relative home to write the papers?
5. The Unlock -1 has opened up the Unrestricted Movement of Persons and Goods and marked that there will not be any restriction on inter-State and intra-State movement of persons and goods and no separate permission/ approval/ e-permit would be required for such movements. However, if a State/ UT, based on reasons of public health and its assessment of the situation propose to regulate the movement of persons, it would give wide publicity in advance regarding the restrictions to be placed on such movement, and the related procedures to be followed.
6. The increasing number of COVID-19 patients also warrant rethinking a decision to go ahead with the exams. Today, with the highest single-day spike of 7,964 cases, India’s Covid-19 tally crosses 1.73 lakh. Neither this figure neither is good nor can be ignored. There will a surge of disease Covid-19 in the coming months so why are we ignoring the writing on the wall.
7. With the Unlock -1, increasing mobility and more cases will be identified which calls for an urgent consideration at your part. Don’t rely on the Government move of unlocking, it is forced and accommodative because of lockdown fatigue, people fed up and don’t seem to be bothered about the infection spreading. The numbers will spike. The concept of Dekha Jayega can apply to one Individual mind but certainly, it should not be routed through a prestige institution like ours.
8. At a social place, the students, invigilators will be requiring to have a mask on their faces. The masks are also having their medical complications and wearing a mask for a time of three hours will affect the mental and physical stage. It’s certainly, not an easy job to wear a mask and to write for the exams for many hours.
9. Your attention is drawn towards the AIIMS director Dr Galleria. As per him’ “ With most modelling studies saying the pandemic will peak in India in late July or mid-August, protection measures must be closely followed for protection. “I think it’ll (pandemic peak) probably be a little earlier, I would say July, but most of the mathematical predictors have pushed it to August,” Further such views are subject to many permutations and combination of many factors such as individuals immunity or population infected, asymptomatic transmission, and other unknowns human behaviour.
10. The Institute, as well as the schools providing the examination facilities are requested to go through the clause by clause provisions of the Disaster Management Act 2005 having penal provisions to attract irresponsible conduct.
11. The November Examination will be in schedule and it will be quiet impossible to declare the results by that the time of Registration/ Application forms for November 2020 exams. In any case, a distance between August Exam and November exam will be very short and will only add stress for the students.
12. We must concentrate on the health and safety of our students and affiliated Schools around the Country and should look. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) the outbreak remains a very fluid situation, and please be assured that we are monitoring the effects on health, safety, and travel mobility.
13. I request you to take decisions prioritizing the health and safety of everyone fairer and equitable. At least a thousand members will also take an active part in conducting such an examination. It is prayed to merge the May 2020 exam with November exams and initiate the remedial measures of providing options of students to their chosen groups etc. Further in a stressful and trying situation, and I look forward to your understanding to make decisions in a timely and well-informed manner.
Thanking you in anticipation,
CA Amresh Vashisht, FCA
M- 9837515432
Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for information purposes only and does not constitute an advice or a legal opinion and are personal views of the author. It is based upon relevant law and/or facts available at that point of time and prepared with due accuracy & reliability. Readers are requested to check and refer relevant provisions of statute, latest judicial pronouncements, circulars, clarifications etc before acting on the basis of the above write up. The possibility of other views on the subject matter cannot be ruled out. By the use of the said information, you agree that Author / TaxGuru is not responsible or liable in any manner for the authenticity, accuracy, completeness, errors or any kind of omissions in this piece of information for any action taken thereof. This is not any kind of advertisement or solicitation of work by a professional.
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I strongly disagree, the life of ca final student who are waiting to be a CA will go into vein.
I strongly agree with respected sir.
As a CA final year student, considering all favourable and unfavorable comments posted above, want to share four important facts/issues to know-
1. Most of students shift from villages to well known cities for example Ahmedabad in search of good and reputed classes for their CA preparation.
Due to haphazardly situation of COVID-19 which emerged without any backup plan, largely and unfavourably effect the students preparing for professional exams who lives outside their home.
They couldn’t able to decide whether to go home or stay alone in paying guest or hostel for studies like other b.com students went their home immediately.
2. When students preparing for professional exams, great care is required for their health because all are not strong and disease free. That care students are not getting due to they stay at hostel or pg alone. Also, suffering from food issues.
3. Before giving final exams, we give many test series to know our compatability for final exams. Which is missing. If ICAI takes exams in July, it’s meaningless, because students who are in favour of giving exams, they are also not 100% prepared rather they are under pressure.
4. While giving exams during three hours, one after another, sometimes sneeze or have cough problem generally students have. Mostly we have observed while giving previous exams.
As it is a viral disease, anytime it can be happen to anybody even though you are taking great efforts.
Students who have worked hard like us obviously thought of long hours studied, but dear just think once, if COVID-19 happens to a single student giving exams all over India, it will be shameful for our CA fraternity.
At last, I urged to ICAI president, don’t put all students lives in danger just because of some students.
Health of students must be your priority.
Regards.
I disagree with this petition. It’s not because I live in red zone. Their are two reasons first I had almost prepared for the exams and second I dont want may attempt exam to be merged with Nov. It will increase the no. Of candidates appearing and will decrease the pass %
Its correct and I agree with sir, want from Icai to take better decisions
Strongly agree sir
Strongly agreed with sir..
Strongly disagree with this appeal. Still there is approx two months left and the exams can be conducted taking proper precautionary measures.
Though its centralized but the exams should be conducted and the Students who can not take the examination in july can always appear in Nov or Dec. To wait for complete clearance of the virus from the country is silly and the students not falling under red zone category can take the examination with proper measures. This is something which will not be gone in a day or few months, we have to live with full precautions. Atleast the students who can appear in July should be benefitted and for rest theres always Nov or Dec open.
I totally disagree with this… Many students are prepared well for this attempt… If exams are merged with November exams then most of principals will recall their articles to office to do income tax returns and other work.. So whatever prepared will get ignored in such work pressure.. So please don’t ask this.. It will be better to conduct exams in those cities and towns where transport and institutions facility is available like bangalore… Other city students who are in a red zone has to wait for next exam even though it was difficult.. In my opinion it will be good to conduct exams in July atleast for states in which facilities available.. For red zone people there will be no difference of they write exams in December or in November by cancelling attempt now..
I strongly agree with this petition….first we have to think about life and then about career….I live in Mumbai ….I m in red zone…..how can I be sure that I won’t contract corona virus during exams and now the corona virus cases are asymptomatic that means I might not even have the knowledge that I have corona virus….then if I go home….I may give Corona to my parents….and mere sanitizers and masks won’t help…in my own building I have 3 positive corona-virus cases
Strongly agree with this sir
Totally in favor of this appeal
I agree with this appeal.
Exams can be written even in November,but we are not ready to danger our lives at the cost of exam.
If a student got infected at one centre then social distancing or mask really doesn’t matter we would definitely regret for that.
Sir, Absolutely I am not agree with this appeal, bcz old syllabus students having last two chances to write exam, All students are preparing for exam from last December 2019. How much time and efforts put their for clearing the exams. Better follow the guide lines – maintaining proper distance, using mask, sanitizer and write the exams..
Strongly agree sir
Thank u for taking initiative
Respected Amresh sir, this is called publicity. Icai examination committee are well capable to determine whether July exam could be possible or not.
You have mention Delhi, you should know Delhi govt. is already to operate Delhi metro after lockdown 4 and seeking permission from central govt form 15th May. You know very well how much croud in metro.
And you are borther about lacs students, if you know the ground reality you should ask at lest 100 candidate and than you will observe at lest 90% are ready for exam because the study hard from January.
Strongly agree with this appeal…
also, in maharashtra, cases are rising too rapidly…students would not be able to get to their exam centres with convenience..
Strongly disagree ….pls arrange the exams in July only…too much time is already wasted…this is not favorable decision of skipping the whole one attempt….
agree with this… cases are increasing day by day, will only increase in coming weeks… becomes difficult to study with a complete focus on studies, .. apart from this, theres no guarantee that students themselves wont contract covid-19 while attending the exams itself, and become a source of another surge in cases however much social distancing protocols are carried out
Strongly disagree
Earlier i also in favor of ICAI to conduct may 20 exam in july 20 exam as don’t want to waste 6month , but as of now after unlock.1 announcment and guideline issue by MHA main point is SCHOOLE COLLEGE AND OTHER EDU. INSTITUTE MAY BE OPEN IN JULY ONWARD And in that also the government has said that they will consider for the same not confirm
therefore i agreed with this application
I to strongly agree with the appeal of merging of may 2020 exams with Nov 2020 .
it will help so many students in this situation
Please do consider it sir & understand the problem.
I agree with this
Sir kindly merge this attempt with November. I m living in red zone in Nagpur. And from two months I haven’t even seen the street next to my street. There are more students I m in touch with who along with me don’t have proper stationary. Moreover we don’t have all books with us. It’s very stressful here. I know what I have been going through.
Don’t agree with the appeal at this point of time.
Hope for the better position till the end of June .
It’s too early for this decision
Pls sir we people had prepared a lot for this attempt so kindly review ……so pls conduct exams after August or September pls consider….
I totally disagree with this.. it wont help us to motivate..plx don’t do like this ..
I am a intermidate student and i don’t think it’s good to shift july attempt to november. We are studying very hard to clear this attempt do please don’t shift to november unless otherwise our time will be waste .
I strongly agree….
This decision is better rathe than the exam in July because of some students are stucked in another city and there are not any facility of study and not any nearby center of examination so as per my opinion exam to. Be conduct in November 19 is better
Thanks
strongly agree!! since becoz the cases are going to rise in june n july… and if the exams are conducted and students gets affected then who will take the responsiblity? A wise decision is need to be taken seeing the overall situation. Health is wealth.
Dear Sir
I am totally agreeing with you Sir . I am a parent. ICAI has given option for centre change . But the problem student who opted Overseas as centre still doesnt know which will be the exam centre to choose due to International flight suspension. If exam postpone to November in this case we dont have ti change exam centre. And more over we dont have to compare with CBSE exam. May be it can also change as we considering the pandemic cases. Now student has to be relaxed and study proerly. For that I prefer exam should be in November. The case will reduce and all exam centre we can opt by that time
Thank you
Strongly agree
This is an absolutely useless petition !!
Think about the career of the students
Discipline can be maintained by students in respect of social distancing , wearing the masks and hand santizers .
The way u have appealed it seems that if corona somehow stays till November the exams should be cancelled then . A person appearing in May 20 , by deafult has to appear in May 21 without his/her own fault if both attempts are cancelled .
Schools and colleges ( centres ) should santize before every exam is conducted .
Do not create a negative thought in the minds of the students .
may 2020 is last attempt for old syllabus students. i am an old syllabus student and despite wanting to skip attempt due to covid-19 fear, i am forced to write exam because this is the last attempt. also, im an asthama patient. how am i supposed to write exam wearing a mask for 3 hours?
Please take the initiative and conduct May 2020 exams with Nov 2020 exams. It is very difficult here in South to go out. High risk. Kindly look into the problem.
Agreed, to an appeal
As a final student , I do strongly disagree. May it be July or November only following the social distancing restrictions and preventive measures matter. We are very much able to set that the growth rate in India is very low compared to predictions made in march or February. Icai is confident of conducting exams with safety measures. Just think from a student’s point of view. Do your really think changing time schedule every now and then will have positive impact on their studies?
If we talk about only us, who took proper coaching and had gud time to study , Yes we are ready to attend exams and its gud to conduct as Govt Said .But some students are there who are not abled to get coaching and alsoo at this time some are facing migrants problem. Soo its gud to think about them alsoo and you decision is 100% gud to them.
I don’t agree with this appeal. Those students who are preparing for July attempt and doing hard work for their career if exam will postpone again then it’s totally waste of time. And no can assure that covid -19 will get rid till November attempt so it doesn’t mean that we stop to do our work just because of covid-19..
I would request the authority to please think of conducting online exam for CA Foundation, Inter, IPCC and Final aspirants foe July 2020 attempt only. Delay of exam might lead to career risk of manh such students who are thinking to look forward with their career.
Strongly agree
Agreed from parent view point.
It will be a huge pressure for us CA students to drag this till November. Don’t consider this appeal .. let others skip this attempt. This desicion will be a heart break. Don’t do that. Those who can let them right this attempt. Don’t merge both attempts. It’s a request. Try to understand
Please don’t do this. I am an inter student. All hard works will be wasted if you make such decisions. Those who like to write exam please let them do that.
Otherwise one measure can be taken, by ICAI is to increase number of centres so that all local districts school/colleges are occupied and students don’t face commutation problems.
Also students have been preparing with current amendments then they need to reschedule their preparation with amendments applicable for November exams..
This may lead to more pressure..
I’m highly in favour of merging both attempts this year, given the situation of pandemic and mental stress regarding November 2020 examinations.
Who can guarantee CORONA will end in November, how long exam can be postponed
Dear sir please do not cancelled the exam.most of the student doing very hardwork and almost complete their study so do not skip their chance to give the exam. Sir we faced many problems in this situation but keep study continue to clear our exam so please sir do not cancel the exam please thinks about many sincere students.please conduct the exam when govt. allowed it.
It’s not going Tobe a solution for may 2020 students.. There is uncertainty of covid-19 pandemic To move of for country.. And important reason is that students of may-2020 studying since oct-nov 2019 and.. If any attempt will merge to nov 2020..there will though to pass exam for nov2020 students as may 2050 students get full 1 year to study… And your president sir already said that safety measures are responsibility of icai.. Don’t worry about that.. In short this going To be very bad solution to merge with…