Calcutta University restores 5 attendance marks per paper; new UG exam rules for 2026-27
By TUF News Desk · Published 19 October 2026 · 3 min read
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Five marks in every theory paper at the University of Calcutta will now depend on showing up to class. The university has revised its undergraduate examination regulations for the 2026-27 academic session, bringing back marks for attendance and changing how internal assessment, passing criteria and grade points are worked out.
The changes came through two notifications dated October 8, 2026, numbered CSR-132-2026 and CSR-133-2026. The first covers four-year undergraduate programmes and the second covers three-year programmes, both under the university’s Curriculum and Credit Framework (CCF), 2022. The University of Calcutta has directed its affiliated colleges to fold the revised marks into this year’s academic calendar. Students can read the full notifications on the university’s official website.
What attendance earns now
Students can earn up to five marks for attendance in each paper in every semester, as part of the continuous assessment component. The marks follow attendance bands: 90 to 100 per cent attendance gets 5 marks, 80 to 89 per cent gets 4, 75 to 79 per cent gets 3, and 60 to 74 per cent gets 2.
Attendance rules are not the same across universities, and students weighing Calcutta University against other options can compare evaluation systems in our guide to choosing a university in India.
How each paper is marked
For the first six semesters, the theory component of each paper carries 75 marks: 50 for the semester-end examination and 25 for continuous assessment. That 25 is split into 20 marks for internal assessment and up to 5 for attendance. The practical or tutorial component carries 25 marks. Each subject’s Undergraduate Board of Studies (UGBOS) will decide how the internal assessment is conducted.
In the seventh and eighth semesters of four-year programmes, where the theory component is 100 marks, the split is 75 for the semester-end exam and 25 for continuous assessment. For 100-mark practical papers, it is 60 for the semester-end exam and 40 for continuous assessment.
Passing criteria and the new grade system
To earn credits, a student must secure at least 30 per cent of the total marks in a paper, plus at least 30 per cent separately in the semester-end theory exam and in the practical or tutorial exam wherever it applies.
The notifications also introduce a letter-grade and grade-point system. Marks will be mapped to letter grades and rounded to two decimal places, and a student who stays absent gets the designation Absent (Ab) with zero grade points.
The grade system applies only to students admitted to the first semester in 2026-27 and later. The revised marks split and attendance rules, by contrast, apply to regular and backlog students appearing in examinations across semesters from this session onward. For backlog candidates, the college will conduct the 20-mark internal assessment, and attendance marks will go by the student’s attendance record from when they were a regular student in that semester.
Frequently asked questions
How many marks does Calcutta University award for attendance now?
Up to 5 marks per paper per semester, part of the continuous assessment component. The bands are 90 to 100 per cent attendance for 5 marks, 80 to 89 per cent for 4, 75 to 79 per cent for 3, and 60 to 74 per cent for 2.
When do Calcutta University’s new UG exam rules take effect?
From the 2026-27 academic session, through two notifications dated October 8, 2026. The revised marks and attendance rules cover all students appearing this session; the new letter-grade system starts only with students entering the first semester in 2026-27.
What are the passing marks under the new rules?
At least 30 per cent of the total marks in a paper, along with at least 30 per cent separately in the semester-end theory exam and in the practical or tutorial exam where applicable.
Frequently asked questions
How many marks does Calcutta University award for attendance now?
Up to 5 marks per paper per semester. Students with 90-100% attendance get 5 marks, 80-89% get 4, 75-79% get 3, and 60-74% get 2.
When do Calcutta University's new UG exam rules take effect?
From the 2026-27 academic session, through notifications dated October 8, 2026. The new grade-point system applies only to students entering the first semester in 2026-27 or later.
What are the passing marks under the new rules?
Students must secure at least 30% of the total marks in a paper, plus at least 30% separately in the semester-end theory and practical or tutorial examinations.
Sources: The Times of India, EdexLive, NDTV