Savitribai Phule Pune University has cancelled all examinations scheduled for 31 October across affiliated colleges in Pune, Ahilyanagar and Nashik districts, citing the likelihood of traffic disruption in Nashik during the President’s visit and a Simhastha Kumbh Mela flag-hoisting programme.
The decision covers examinations for various courses conducted by colleges affiliated with the university. The university’s Examination and Evaluation Board director, Dr Rajendra Talware, said the examinations were cancelled after the Nashik Municipal Corporation commissioner informed the university that traffic movement would be affected in Nashik and the Trimbakeshwar area.
The President’s visit and the flag-hoisting ceremony connected with the Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2026-27 are scheduled in the Nashik and Trimbak regions. The expected movement of visitors, security arrangements and traffic management measures prompted the university to withdraw the examination schedule for the day across all three districts.
The cancelled examinations have been rescheduled for 11 November. They will be conducted at the same times that had been specified in the original timetable, Dr Talware said. Students are therefore required to check the revised schedule and follow instructions issued by their respective colleges.
The university’s examination department issued the circular one day before the examinations were due to take place. The late notice created an additional communication challenge for colleges, particularly because college operations close after 5 pm, according to the report. Some principals said students would have to be informed through social media platforms or SMS after the cancellation decision.
The disruption highlights how major public events can affect the functioning of institutions beyond the immediate venue area. In this case, the university linked the examination decision to expected traffic conditions in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar, while the revised date applies to students in affiliated colleges across Pune, Ahilyanagar and Nashik districts.
The decision also places responsibility on individual colleges to communicate the cancellation quickly to students who may already have been preparing to travel for the examination. The report quoted some principals as criticising the timing of the circular and describing it as evidence of confusion in the university’s examination administration.
Students whose examinations were scheduled for 31 October are expected to appear on 11 November at the time originally fixed in the timetable. Further communication is to be issued through the university examination department and the affiliated colleges.
