The University of Calicut will review the 5% annual exam fee hike effected during the tenure of the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.

According to sources, the university’s Syndicate standing committee will study the impact of the decision on students. This comes in the wake of complaints that many students were finding it difficult to cope with the hike.

The standing committee will also prepare a comprehensive exam manual to record and streamline the procedures related to the conduct of exams. The penalty for those found to be involved in impersonation and copying during exams is likely to be enhanced. The committee will prepare a list of teachers in districts who are willing to do evaluation of answer scripts.

These decisions were taken at a meeting of the Syndicate on Wednesday (July 29, 2026). The Syndicate also decided to take action against affiliated colleges that reportedly violated rules in the conduct of students’ union elections last year. New boards of studies on various subjects will come into force soon. A committee has been appointed to study contract appointments at the university. It has been asked to submit a report in a month.

Meanwhile, the pro-Left Calicut University Employees’ Union (CUEU) has opposed the reported move to deploy retired staff for exam duties. In a release on Thursday (July 30, 2026), CUEU functionaries claimed that the United Democratic Front-aligned Syndicate was going ahead with the move ignoring opposition from pro-Left members. They pointed out that exam duties could be completed in time by rearranging the duties of the existing staff. At a time when there is a valid Kerala Public Service Commission rank list for appointment of new staff, the move to appoint retired employees smacked of injustice to the applicants. The CUEU leaders also alleged that this could be the first step before contractualising appointments in phases.

Published - July 30, 2026 07:47 pm IST