Prepared by Saanvi Pandey
1. Executive Summary
This policy brief analyses the current UGC norm of 75–80% attendance in colleges and universities. This norm makes it mandatory for students to attend college, failing which they might be barred from taking examinations.
The causes of students’ absence and impacts of such policy have been discussed extensively, providing insights into the challenges faced by the students and how such policies are posing a hindrance to students’ mental health and careers rather than encouraging them to attend classes on a regular basis.
2. Introduction
The Delhi court observed that there is an urgent need to reconsider mandatory attendance norms in colleges and universities because the teaching methods have substantially changed post the COVID-19 pandemic. The attendance policies have started making students question their worth and call themselves ‘failures’ (NDTV, 2024).
Institutions bound by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and AICTE norms demand minimum classroom hours for accreditation, which bind colleges and universities to mandate 75–80% attendance for students to sit for examinations (Data, 2025). Surprisingly, many high courts have even said that ‘No student can excel in her life unless she attends the classes of the courses which she undertakes’ (NMJI, 2021).
In lower-level classes, an attendance policy may positively impact student learning. The presence of the student in class may ensure that the student is engaged, is submitting material in a timely fashion and is also able to keep track of test dates and homework due dates more successfully. However, as the student progresses to upper-level classes, the effect of an attendance policy on students’ learning or engagement likely diminishes (ResearchGate, 2015). In addition, according to a study conducted in 2015, the majority of students (51%) believed that, for a course with an attendance policy, the policy positively affected final grades. For a course without an attendance policy, the majority (57%) felt that the lack of a policy had no impact on final grades (ResearchGate, 2015). In fact, attending class is often the result of a decision, which is influenced by motivational beliefs and class context. By making class attendance compulsory, students can lose their feeling of control, begin to feel bad about their decision to enroll in college and may decide that there are more important things to do than attend class (1999).
In this context, the policy brief explores the impact of strict attendance policies on students’ life and the learning outcomes it promises.
3. Analysis
This section analyses the causes and the impacts of the stringent 75% attendance requirement needed to sit for the examinations, on the students’ life.
Whether it is medical, undergraduate, or postgraduate education, colleges and universities have strict attendance policies. While this system incentivizes students to attend classes, they often engage in passive learning. Equating physical presence with knowledge, in an era where education is highly accessible in the form of digital media, is unrealistic.
In stark contrast, universities in the West, specifically the United States and much of Europe, rarely mandate attendance except in a few cases; the system trusts the learner’s maturity (News18, 2025).
A student who attends all their classes but barely engages in discussions is in no way benefitting from earning the minimum percentage given for meeting the attendance requirement. All they earn is a pass to sit for examinations.
3.1 Causes of Absence
While the reasons for student absence can vary a great deal, the majority of the cases reported are mentioned below.
I) Inability to find hostels/PG during a limited time:
Students residing in other states find it extremely difficult to shift to new cities for education since travelling daily is not a feasible option. Most of the colleges do not provide in-college hostel facilities, which forces students to look for alternatives. The process for the same is not only expensive but also time-consuming.
Moreover, students take time to settle in new environments. Figuring out finances, daily travel paths and managing college schedules is not an easy thing to accommodate without prior experience.
II) On-site Internships:
Long gone are the days, when a degree used to guarantee employment. To get hired, students now have to get extensive experience to become eligible for placements.
Most of the companies offering high responsibility internships require students’ presence in an offline setting. Due to the strict attendance rules, it becomes impossible for students to gain meaningful experience.
III) Building Side Projects/Startups:
The mindset of the new generation is rapidly changing. They no longer want to be employees. Many students now prefer building independent ventures, fail and build new things. Innovation runs their hunger.
However, building even a side project requires significant time and effort. It needs constant effort, time and curiosity.
The 75% attendance rule makes it hard to build while simultaneously attending hours of classes. However, it needs to be understood that the problem is not with the education but rather the difference in priorities of the younger generation.
IV) Mental Health:
This attendance rule sidelines students’ mental health. Even the Delhi High Court said the mental health of students, which is also affected, needs to be borne in mind while considering attendance requirements (NDTV, 2024).
Even though mental health remains a taboo in many parts of India, this statement from the Delhi High Court raises hopes and expectations among college and university students.
V) Indifferent Faculty and Uninterested Students:
One of the main reasons why students become uninterested in attending college is because of indifferent faculty (The Hindu, 2025). For students, adapting to new courses in college becomes a challenge and when the teacher takes minimal to no interest in making students interested in their respective courses, students stop attending classes.
Moreover, when parents don’t trust their children with career choices and students end up in courses they despise, they are often unable to develop an interest that encourages them to attend college.
3.2 Impact
The distress of not being able to sit for examinations because of the unfulfilled attendance criteria has reportedly contributed to severe distress among students from top colleges and universities like IIT Madras and Amity Universities (Indian Express, 2023).
Such attendance policies do not act as an incentive but rather as a punishment for students who wish to pursue alternative academic or professional paths.
The inability of students to participate in offline internships greatly impacts their future prospects. Meanwhile, students who are unable to channel their potential into building something of their own may experience suppressed creativity and reduced motivation, which take a toll on their mental health.
Recommendation
It is evident that the current attendance policy faces several challenges. Students may begin to lose their trust in the system that was supposed to protect them. To ensure students get experience outside their studies, following policies can be taken into consideration:
- Instead of a 75–80% attendance policy, the benchmark should be lowered to 33%. This will ensure students learn without forcing them into classrooms where they may not actively engage in discussions and just sit there to get a pass for their exams. Besides that, the systems that award marks based solely on attendance should be scrapped.
- Institutions should adopt experiential learning methods that help students build skills such as communication, networking, critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork.
- A new system should be devised where students’ projects and internships should be taken into consideration instead of attendance percentage.
- Some colleges and universities make it compulsory for students to be involved in internships based on their courses. This approach should be taken into consideration based on students’ courses and year of study.
Conclusion
The 75% attendance rule was originally designed to encourage discipline and consistent academic engagement among students. However, in its current shape and form, the policy often fails to reflect the realities of a modern student life. As the analysis shows, students today face multiple structural and personal challenges—from relocating to new cities and pursuing internships to managing mental health and exploring entrepreneurial ventures. When attendance policies remain rigid, despite these evolving circumstances, they risk penalizing students who are actively trying to build skills and opportunities beyond the classroom.
Rather than enforcing a strict numerical threshold, educational institutions should consider adopting more flexible and student-centered attendance frameworks. Recognizing legitimate academic, professional, and personal commitments can help ensure that the policy supports learning rather than restricting it. A more balanced approach would allow universities to maintain academic standards while also enabling students to pursue experiences that strengthen their professional readiness and overall well-being.
Reforming attendance policies in this direction would better align higher education with the changing aspirations and needs of today’s students.
References
Lowder, L., Khalid, A., Ferreira, D. R., & Colebeck, D. (2015). Student and faculty perceptions of attendance policies at a polytechnic university. ResearchGate, 122(122). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283109594_Student_and_faculty_perceptions_of_attendance_policies_at_a_polytechnic_university
Karen L. St, Clair (1999). A Case Against Compulsory Class Attendance Policies in Higher Education. Innovative Higher Education, Vol. 23, No. 3, Spring.
https://faculty.washington.edu/sharon/St._Clair_1999.pdf
India. (2024, August 21). Delhi High Court Urges To Re-look Mandatory Attendance Rules In Colleges. NDTV. https://www.ndtv.com/education/delhi-high-court-urges-to-re-look-mandatory-attendance-rules-in-colleges-6387350
Welcome To Zscaler Directory Authentication. (2026). Nmji.in. https://nmji.in/global-trends-in-attendance-in-medical-colleges-and-possible-solutions/
Sharma, S. (2023, January 21). Notes from a student: It is time educational institutes junked their minimum attendance policies. The Indian Express. https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/college-minimum-attendance-policy-opinion-8395522/
Opinion | Attendance Is Not Equal To Learning: Why It’s Time To Rethink The 75% Rule In Indian Colleges. (2025, October 10). News18. https://www.news18.com/opinion/opinion-attendance-is-not-equal-to-learning-why-its-time-to-rethink-the-75-rule-in-indian-colleges-9628369.htm
Pushkarni Panchamukhi. (2025, June 14). Why higher education institutes must relook the attendance policy. The Hindu. https://www.thehindu.com/education/why-higher-education-institutes-must-relook-the-attendance-policy/article69660523.ece
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