Under the path-breaking new system, a student will not be detained if he/she fails in the elective subjects in Part-I or II of the graduation exams. They are to be promoted automatically. And if they clear the papers in Parts-II and III, they are deemed as passed.

What's more, a student will get five years to clear Part-I and Part-II subjects and another three to clear Part-III. Which means one can take up to eight years to complete their graduation.

"We adopted a no-detention policy to enable students to pursue studies under a stress-free environment," said Shyamal Sarkar, secretary of CU's undergraduate council.

For being promoted to Part- II, a first-year student in 2010 needs to obtain at least 35% marks in the honours paper. But the university will not stop her even she fails in the elective papers. She will get an opportunity to clear them along with the Part-II honours papers the next year, Sarkar said, making a clean break from the past when clearing the honours paper and at least one elective subject was mandatory for promotion to Part-II. Those who flunk the honours subjects, however, will have to stay back.