Published Paper Details:

The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP-2020) is a historic initiative toward qualitative improvement in the Indian education system. The primary objective of this policy is to take education beyond the limited domain of knowledge and connect it with skills, innovation, creativity, and practical applicability. In order to achieve this objective, the implementation of the semester examination system at the postgraduate level in higher education has been emphasized. The semester system is different from the traditional annual examination system, as student evaluation is conducted in shorter academic terms rather than over the entire academic year. The fundamental basis of the semester examination system is Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE). Under this system, students' knowledge, skills, attitudes, creativity, and problem-solving abilities are assessed on a regular basis. This system evaluates students' academic progress through internal assessment, assignments, project work, presentations, seminars, and written examinations. As a result, not only is examination-related stress reduced, but students also develop habits of regular study, self-discipline, and a sense of academic responsibility. However, along with its many positive aspects, the semester examination system also presents certain practical challenges. Shortage of teaching resources, lack of trained teachers, pressure of time schedules, fairness in evaluation, and limitations of institutional infrastructure act as obstacles to its effective implementation. These problems are particularly more pronounced in colleges located in rural and backward areas. The objective of the study is to clearly highlight the advantages, limitations, and possibilities of this system and to present a comprehensive evaluation of its usefulness in higher education. At the same time, this research paper offers valuable suggestions for policymakers, teachers, and academic administrators, which can help make the semester examination system more effective, inclusive, and quality-oriented.