Sri Venkateswara College has advised faculty not to schedule tests from 27–31 October 2025 to allow students to participate in post-Diwali festivities. This is the only DU college to have made this advisory thus far.
Sri Venkateswara College has issued a notification asking faculty members to avoid scheduling academic assessments, including class tests, assignments, and practical exams, between October 27th and October 31, 2025. The communication, circulated by Principal Prof. Vajala Ravi, states that the pause on tests is intended to ensure students can “actively participate in festivities” following the winter break.
According to the official DU academic calendar, winter break runs from October 19th to October 26th. Regular classes resume across the university on October 27, and Sri Venkateswara College will also reopen as scheduled. The college administration, however, has urged faculty to delay assessments until after October 31. This notification perhaps aims to give students some leeway in case of delays in return or time to readjust without ‘academic inconvenience’.
As of now, no other DU college has issued a similar guideline instructing teachers to refrain from academic tests during that period. Given that Diwali (20 October) and Bhai Dooj (23 October) fall just before the period the college has flagged, and with Chhath Puja observed from 25–28 October, many students may already be navigating travel, family commitments, and rituals. In such cases, rushing back immediately for tests could lead to attendance issues or students missing internal marks. Avoiding academic backlogs due to festival delays seems to be the administration’s primary focus.
The timing also overlaps with heavy inter-state travel for many out-station students, meaning disruptions or delays are common and could make immediate academic obligations difficult. The advisory may therefore be aimed at preventing avoidable loss of marks or attendance issues.
However, some students claim the notification has not been entirely effective. Some departments have reportedly retained planned assessments, with faculty members stating that their test schedules were decided well in advance and are difficult to alter at short notice.
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Anjali Paruvu