Calcutta University brings back attendance marks: up to 5 for 90% attendance
File photo: Biswarup Ganguly (CC BY 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Calcutta University has reinstated attendance marks for undergraduates from 2026-27: 5 marks for 90% attendance or more, falling to none below 60%, under a notice of 9 October 2026.
What Happened
The University of Calcutta has reinstated marks for class attendance in its undergraduate courses, under revised examination rules set out in a notice dated 9 October 2026 and reported on 14 October. From the 2026-27 academic year, students can earn up to 5 marks for attendance as part of the continuous assessment of each paper. Those with 90% attendance or more get the full 5 marks, with the award falling in steps to 2 marks for attendance between 60% and 75%. Students who attend less than 60% of classes get no attendance marks. The revised rules also change how internal assessment and grade points are calculated.
Key Facts
- University: University of Calcutta.
- Notice: dated 9 October 2026; changes apply from the 2026-27 academic year.
- 90% attendance and above: 5 marks.
- 80% to below 90%: 4 marks.
- 75% to below 80%: 3 marks.
- 60% to below 75%: 2 marks.
- Below 60%: no attendance marks.
- The attendance marks sit within the continuous (internal) assessment component of each paper; the rest of that component comes from internal tests and assignments.
- The rules also revise the grade-point system; one report says the new grade-point system applies to students newly admitted to the first semester, not to those clearing backlogs.
Why It Matters
Many colleges struggle to keep students in classrooms as they juggle coaching, part-time work and online learning. By attaching marks to attendance, the university is giving students a direct, measurable reason to come to class. Five marks may look small, but in a grading system where a few marks can move a student from one grade to the next, they can make a real difference to final results.
The step-wise scale is also designed to be fair. Instead of a single cut-off, students are rewarded in bands, so someone who attends 78% of classes still gains something, while those below 60% lose out. That gives a clear signal about what the university expects, while leaving room for students who miss some classes for genuine reasons.
For students, the message is practical: attendance now counts directly towards marks, alongside internal tests and assignments, so keeping track of one's own attendance from the first week of the semester matters. Colleges, in turn, will need reliable attendance records, since those records now feed directly into results. Reports differ on some details of how the internal assessment is split, so students should check the exact rules with their colleges.
| Attendance | Marks |
|---|---|
| 90% and above | 5 |
| 80% to below 90% | 4 |
| 75% to below 80% | 3 |
| 60% to below 75% | 2 |
| Below 60% | 0 |
Impact
Short-term: Students in Calcutta University's affiliated colleges will need to track their attendance closely this semester, since it now affects their internal marks.
Long-term: If attendance improves, other universities may consider similar rules. Colleges will need accurate, well-kept attendance systems, since disputes over records can now affect marks.
Who is affected: Undergraduate students of Calcutta University and its affiliated colleges, teachers who keep attendance and set internal assessments, and college administrators.
Key Takeaway
Calcutta University undergraduates can now earn up to 5 marks for attendance from 2026-27, with the full 5 for 90% attendance and nothing below 60%.
Questions and Answers
How many marks does Calcutta University give for attendance?
Up to 5 marks per paper as part of continuous assessment: 5 for 90% or more, 4 for 80% to below 90%, 3 for 75% to below 80% and 2 for 60% to below 75%.
What happens if attendance is below 60%?
Students with less than 60% attendance get no attendance marks.
From when do the new Calcutta University rules apply?
The changes, set out in a notice dated 9 October 2026, apply from the 2026-27 academic year.
Do the changes affect grade points?
Yes. The rules also revise the grade-point calculation; one report says the new grade-point system applies to students newly admitted to the first semester, not to backlog candidates.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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