SPPU’s Provisional Promotion: A Lifeline for 30,000 Students with Critical Backlogs in 2025-26

In a much-awaited relief for thousands of struggling students, Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) has announced a provisional promotion scheme for the academic year 2025-26, allowing students with critical backlogs to advance to the next year temporarily. This decision comes after sustained protests demanding a "carry forward" facility, which many students claimed was necessary to prevent academic delays and mental stress caused by rigid promotion rules.

Understanding the Critical Backlog Rule

SPPU’s existing academic regulations require engineering and architecture undergraduates to earn a minimum number of credits each year to pass. For example, an engineering student must earn 22 out of 44 credits annually, while an architecture student needs to secure 28 out of 56 credits.

However, there is a stricter rule regarding promotion between years, tied to what is known as critical backlogs. According to Prabhakar Desai, Director of Examination and Evaluation at SPPU:

• A student in the second year cannot move to the third year if they have even one backlog from the first year.
• Similarly, third-year students cannot be promoted to the fourth year if any backlog exists from the second year.
• Fourth-year students face the same restriction regarding backlogs from the third year.

These critical backlogs have been a significant hurdle for many students, effectively blocking their academic progression even if they clear credits in the current year.

The New Provisional Promotion Policy

Under the new circular issued by SPPU, students with critical backlogs will be provisionally promoted to the next academic year for 2025-26 as a “special matter.” This provisional promotion is a temporary measure designed to give students an opportunity to continue their studies while clearing previous backlogs.

• These students will appear for their critical backlog exams during the winter exam session of 2025-26.
• If they pass, their admission will be converted from provisional to permanent.
• However, if they fail, the admission will be cancelled, and importantly, no fees will be refunded.

After clearing the critical backlogs, students will then be eligible to sit for all other exams, including both semesters of the current academic year, during the summer exam session of 2025-26.

Impact on Students and University

This policy affects approximately 30,000 students across engineering and architecture disciplines who have been stuck due to the stringent backlog rule. The provisional promotion allows them to move forward academically without losing an entire year, which has been a significant concern, especially in the wake of pandemic-related disruptions.

The decision also reflects the university’s acknowledgment of student struggles and an effort to balance academic standards with compassion.

Student Protests and University Response

The new provisional promotion circular followed a series of protests led by Youth Congress members who demanded the introduction of a carry-forward facility for students burdened with critical backlogs. The third such protest on Thursday is widely credited with accelerating the university’s decision to announce this relief.

These protests highlighted the urgency of the issue, drawing attention to the psychological and financial stress caused by rigid academic progression policies.

What Students Should Know

• Students promoted provisionally must clear backlog papers in the winter exams of 2025-26 to retain their seats.
• Failure to clear backlogs will result in loss of admission without fee refunds.
• After clearing backlogs, students must complete the current academic year's exams in the summer session.
• The move is a one-time special provision applicable only for the 2025-26 academic year.

Looking Forward

SPPU’s provisional promotion scheme is a pragmatic step that offers flexibility without compromising academic integrity. It provides a pathway for thousands of students to continue their education, helping them avoid unnecessary academic delays while maintaining accountability through exam performance requirements.

As the university implements this policy, it will be important for students to prepare rigorously for the winter exams to secure their permanent admission and progress confidently toward completing their degrees.