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As more than 2 lakh candidates across the country collectively waited for the release of the University of Delhi’s cut-off lists on June 23^rd night, hopes ran high and anticipation reached its peak. June 24^th officially marks the first day of the admissions process for the academic session 2017-18 and was met with a series of hurdles which led to lower turnouts as compared to previous years.

Technical glitches

Amongst the documents required for securing admission in the colleges, candidates were supposed to present a college-specific form/acknowledgement slip which had the name of the college and course on top, along with other documents. This form could only be generated through the undergraduate admissions portal, which was unfortunately not updated on time. As the list released, those who cleared the soaring cut-offs were eager to fulfil all the formalities and appear for the process on the first day. However, the site failed to reflect the option to generate this form on time. The process was scheduled to begin from 9:30 am and continue till 1:30. Many candidates were unable to access it even till 12 pm, making it impossible for them to secure admission in the college of their choice. “The admission portal of the varsity was not accessible. Thus, students could not take the print out, resulting in less number of students turning up for admission. However, it was still a normal crowd, considering the high cut-offs and the holiday on Sunday and Monday,” said a professor from Ramjas College, in conversation with Press Trust of India. The operational hindrance paved the way to anxious students and a dampened spirit.

The sky-high cut-offs

The University manages to bemuse the academic world every year with its soaring cut-offs, and while this year witnessed a marginal dip in the trends of popular colleges, the bar was set high. The highest cut-off has been released by Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College at 99.66% for B.Sc. (Hons.) Electronics, 99% for B.A. (Hons.) Political Science, 98.75% for B.A. (Hons.) English, and 98% for B.Com (Hons.). Shivaji College has set the bar for B.A. (Hons.) Economics with a requirement of 98%. This year also witnessed various off-campus colleges announcing an equal or higher cut-off than North and South campus colleges. The high percentage requirements limited the admissions uptake. This was also coupled by the muddle surrounding the best of four calculations, with many students uncertain about the method.

Documentation requirements

One of the documents required to be presented at the time of admissions is the Class XII marks-sheet as provided by the school authorities. Due to the delay in the announcement of results this year, there was a disparity in the timeline. Many students from Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and Tamil Nadu Board were unable to show their original marks-sheet as they had not received the document from their respective schools yet and were denied admission to some colleges. Some colleges have resolved the issue by allowing them to enrol in the college by signing an undertaking that the originals will be submitted within a stipulated period of time. Students who were unaware about presenting the anti-ragging form or the medical certificate (as required by some colleges) also faced issues.

This is the first cut-off list which has been released by the varsity. Eligible candidates can appear for admissions till June 28^th. You can refer to more details about the procedure here.

The next list will be announced on the midnight of June 30^th, with the process commencing from July 1^st.

Feature Image Credits: Alex Arthur for DU Beat

Saumya Kalia

[email protected]

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Behind the curtains of the starry shows and the motley of events lined up lies the true endurance of the Organising Committee, for their perseverance makes the fest truly successful!

Perspective is everything. An object of existence can be viewed with a mixed reception by a plethora of people – this is known. Having said that, the grand cultural affair organised every year by colleges which are home to the wanderers also harbour a melange of dreams and dedication. As students of the University of Delhi assimilate and revel in the glory of the fest season, a tiresome and consciously evaded entity of it is often pushed to the sidelines. Behind the brilliance of the spectacle witnessed and the magic created, there is the effort put in by the architects of the show which shan’t and won’t go unnoticed.

Months before the calendar indicates the period of February and March, their mind sets into a prudent mode of brainstorming, planning, and strategising the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ of their idealised cultural fests. Fancy the big fat Indian wedding, with the traditional pomp and clobber of an extravaganza which is delightfully put up for critique by relatives whose relation shall continue to remain a mystery. As viewers of the wedding ceremony, a million suggestions and points of criticism pervade our minds, with ideations of what could have been better. And as a member of the Organising Committee, the fest is their mini-shaadi where they are on the receiving end of these insatiable comments. The worries of what should and shouldn’t be done, of the whys and the hows, seem inescapable and inexhaustible, don’t they?

As the clock churns to move the wheels of time, plans are executed, and the weight of the work adds a tiresome sigh to their conversations. Mornings, days, evenings, and nights are spent in ensuring a successful implementation of what was promised. From team formation and task delegation to scavenging connections for sponsorship of any kind, their groans and despair in this period remain unmatched. A lack of sufficient funds, when combined with the incompatibility with the student union of the college or with another department, might add to the verses of whines narrated by them.

The final product of performances and hard work which grace the stage has a story of memories carved in it. The troubles and struggles endured in the making of an iconic fest are looked back as fond remembrances, for they were all worth it. The woes then fade away into waves of nostalgia, only to be transcended into anticipating a bigger and better fest next season!

Image Credits: DU Beat

Saumya Kalia

[email protected]

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