As the announcements for the fifth cut-off roll out, it can be expected that the admission season is about to head to a close. While commerce is still open at Gargi and Kirorimal College, LSR will still be offering History at 93.75.
Barring a few courses, majority courses are now closed in most colleges. Commerce is now available only in 23 colleges out of the overall number of 52.
Philosophy and History courses were closed in the fourth cut-off at Gargi. However, the college is now offering seats in the two with the bar at 83.25-87.25 for History and 81-85 for Philosophy. At Ramjas, several courses have started closing for the reserved categories. Ramjas’ Political Science general category cut-off stays the same at 91.5-95.5, while the course is closed for all reserved categories now.
At LSR, while all courses are closed, History is still up for grabs at 93.75. After three consecutive lists, Commerce at Hans Raj is still stuck at 96.5-98. Economics is finally closed at the college now. Science courses such as Physics, Zoology, Botany, Maths and Geology are closed Hans Raj, while B.Tech in Computer Science and Electronics is still available.
When taken a look at the entire B.Tech cut-off, barring the aforementioned college and three others, the general category admissions have been closed.
Overall, the heightened start to the admission season is now surely walking towards the end. With majority of the admissions done, it can be expected that the next cut-off might just be a concluding affair for general category admissions. However, as previously reported, reserved category admissions haven’t picked up in most colleges.
Delhi University has been facing arrant chaos and bedlam ever since admissions to the Four Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) started. It’s the first time ever that many colleges closed their doors for admissions to courses before time due to over admissions. The forking for equality, selection and caliber has been reducing with the admissions to FYUP. Colleges have been soughing under the stress. There was a torrent of applications from students at some colleges due to lower cut-offs and consequent to the same there were admissions over the ratified seats. For instance, there were 55,000 applications this year compared to 2,200 last year for the Journalism Course. By retaining the original certificates and unnecessarily detaining admission process, many colleges have also been accused of. Besides some colleges also admitted students on first-come-first-serve basis, which is out of the bound of rule books.
The Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) casts about the aftermath of the delving by Delhi University. The University, after all, has resolved to appoint a high-octane committee headed by a retired judge to inquire over the alleged matters regarding infraction of admission norms by some colleges during the ongoing admissions. An inquiry into the issue has been originated by J.M. Khurana, the Dean, Students’ Welfare.
Six colleges namely College of Vocational Studies (CVS), Sri Aurobindo, Maharaja Agrasen, Swami Shraddhanand, Shyam Lal and Atma Ram Santan Dharma (ARSD) had promised seats to aspirants eligible in first cutoff and denied later. Applicants had to visit Dean’s office (Student Welfare) to settle issues, although many of which could be tackled at the colleges themselves. CVS confronted problems regarding English Honours admissions whereas ARSD, Maharja Agrasen College and Sri Aurobindo faced trouble at B.Tech in Computer Science, B.Tech in Electronics, Physics and Chemistry, respectively. Also, students and parents, calling for justice, brought out strike at CVS, unfortunately which had no positive upshot.
The bustling streets of New York. The decadence of Los Angeles. The allure of Las Vegas. Yes, most Indians have a mini emotional drama when thinking about the United States of America. This deep rooted obsession with the land of the whites raises yet another question, ‘why are we in such a hurry to live the American dream’, ‘why is it so important to replace New Delhi with New York?’
Since the dawn of mankind, every decade, one Homo Sapien has done something innovative and the others have followed suit. And so, many years ago, one smart ass decided to ditch the Indian soils for the virgin land overseas and ever since then every Indian has been fishing for his golden ticket to the wonderland of America.
Is it the cleaner roads, the so called better infrastructure or just the thrill of rolling your ‘R’s to infinity? Whatever be the reason, India can’t get enough of America. Our directors run off to America every chance they get, just to make a love story that would have been just as pathetic if it was shot in Nehru Park as it did in Central Park. The rich Indian ‘elite’ can’t bear the thought of having their children study in mediocre Indian colleges but they have no qualms with packing them off to down trodden American ‘schools’. The superstars who’ll throw the biggest tantrum if asked to arrive at an inauguration on time don’t mind waiting in line with the other junior artists for the most insignificant role in the Hollywood biggies. And, most importantly, we can’t wait to flaunt the six packs and the bikinis on the beaches of Miami when we haven’t even seen the breath taking backwaters of Kerala!
India has seen the most phenomenal growth in the past few years and true, we have our ups and downs but all said and done, an Indian can never feel more at home than India. Even though America is a gold mine, there are somethings that an Indian cannot experience in on any other continent- getting wet in the rain and then getting stuck for hours in traffic with your closest friends because of water logging, eating bhel puri (not the packed one, but the roadside one), bargaining at Janpath to buy things you don’t really need and countless experiences such as these! But again, not to sound one dimensional and maintaining the tempo, India has its credentials too. The economy, which is kind of brackish at the moment, is bubbling with opportunities. Anyone who wants to start afresh, this is the place. We have the most beautiful women in the world (and no, I don’t just mean Aishwarya Rai). We have some amazing colleges (the top ones, that is)-actually that’s the thing, we have a certain amount of good colleges and twenty students vying for one seat, so if you make it, kudos! And most importantly, we are young (no, not the statistics that state India has a huge workforce on the younger side). I mean, we’ve just started. We can devote the next fifty years to doing things our way! We have a value system, some moral standards and if something is disagreeable, change it. You don’t like unpunctuality-great, be ten minutes early. You don’t like the littered roads, then stop throwing those wrappers on the streets!
After over six decades of throwing away the tag of being a colonial state and after three decades of realizing that the politicians are useless, it is, perhaps, time to be the change instead of asking for it. It is the era of Indian dreams!
Will the B. Tech Degree offered by Delhi University be the same as the one offered by the regular engineering colleges?
The Four-Year Undergraduate Programme has observed an academic metamorphosis of six courses, namely psychological sciences, electronics, instrumentation, computer science, food technology and polymer science from their early B.A or B.Sc form to B.Tech. The officials from Delhi University have claimed that the B.Tech degree would make one eligible for M.Tech courses in institutions such as IITs and NITs. The new B.Tech courses have attracted many students, the reason for which might hinge on the aforementioned claim. However, IIT officials deem it appropriate to doubt the veracity of the statement since the University has not communicated with them about this aspect. The officials are of the view that a thorough inspection of the four-year curricula and the merit of students is in order before they give their final word.
While on one hand, there are optimistic affirmations that the engineering institutes might, after all, grant Delhi University graduates admission in M. Tech courses immediately after their graduation, on the other hand, the composition of B.Tech courses of Delhi University has come under scrutiny. Ordinarily, a B. Tech course in other institutions consists of 6-7 theory papers in the subject along with 4-5 practical/technical papers each in the first two semesters. Whereas under FYUP, each semester in the first year comprises of two papers, 4 foundation courses and one course on Gandhian Philosophy: Integrated Mind, Body and Heart.
Another noteworthy impediment is the fact that a fresh staff, with technical background, required for the new technical courses has not been introduced. Yet another factor that adds to the inconclusiveness of the new pattern is its technical base that has been said to be drawn without any approval from All India Council for Technical Education. While most teachers refused to clarify this ambiguity, a teacher, closely associated with the formulation of the FYUP structure, responded, “I don’t think DU has got any approval from the AICTE. We mentioned this to our Head of the Department, but received no reply.” Similar belief has been reaffirmed by other publications, while the University has not thrown much light on the matter.
What further needs to be noted is that admissions to the newly introduced Delhi University B.Tech courses require no entrance examination contrary to the system followed in other engineering colleges. The admission on the basis of cut-off hence acts as an attraction to students who didn’t make it in the competitive entrance and at the same time the quality of students who will pursue the course is put to question. The eligibility criteria in regular engineering colleges comes with the requirement of a science background in class 12. With the DU course however, even a humanities student can pursue a B.Tech degree.
Students have also been apprehensive about the kind of placements that the course would offer without the AICTE approval and the lack of reputation as B.Tech training grounds in the market.
Nonetheless, the University has made efforts to display the liaison of its new courses with those of engineering. For instance, the newly introduced electronics course has been “termed” as a close compatriot of the one taught at Delhi Technical University.
Suryansh Chaudhary, a recent class 12 pass-out says, “Well it is cheap, a government institute and in Delhi! And unfortunately, other things don’t really matter.” The affordability factor is certainly one to think about. While other government engineering colleges might also offer a subsidised fee, the limited number of seats in these institutions certainly happens to be a problem. With the increase in demand for the B.Tech tag, the more the merrier seems to be the apt phrase here.
Many students believe that they would prefer pursuing B.Tech at a regular engineering college because the curriculum is more ‘engineering-like’, is AICTE approved and promises better job prospects. There is no significant difference between the previous B.Sc. Computer Science and the new B.Tech Computer Science syllabus at Delhi University. Except the ‘B.Tech tag’, not many elements seem to have been changed.
With a degree that is not AICTE approved and will be taught (similar to a B.Sc course) by the same staff that previously taught B.Sc and B.A. courses, whether it will actually make you an engineer is something to think about. As of now, we have can only study the progress of this much popularised Four-Year Undergraduate Programme to see whether it stands the test of time.
Editor adds: The story is aimed at the new B.Tech courses at DU and not the B.Tech in Innovation programme started by Cluster Innovation Centre in 2011. We understand that the technical and practical approach in CIC’s methodology is unquestionable and well recognised. (Also see: Courses to Look out for: B.Tech under CIC)]]>
The century old problem of overcrowded DU classrooms prevails yet again, and this time with consequences affecting admissions of people applying via the reserved category. With the fourth cut-off list announced on Sunday, the Delhi University issued a directive on the “implementation of reservation policy in admissions”, asking colleges to admit reserved category students on the basis of actual intake of general students and not its sanctioned strength. As of now, most DU colleges have barely seen any admissions under the SC/ST/OBC/PWD category.
There’s been a clear flouting of rules by various DU colleges as always and the plethora of problems being faced by reserved category students seem to see no end this year. With the onset of the new Four Year Undergraduate Program (FYUP) and with the takers for DU increasing by a mind boggling 50%, most colleges have been picky about the students they choose. With higher ranked DU colleges as Hansraj coming out with a highly unfair and rule-breaking ‘additional eligibility criteria’ for students applying via the reserved category and also with the increase in the number of OBC students being taken in every year, DU is in two minds about how to handle the fluctuating graph of students coming and going from the university.
Under a survey conducted by Dhani Ram, President of Delhi University SC/ST Teachers Association to assess the status of admissions for SC, ST, other backward category and persons with disability we can see that lesser known colleges in DU like Lakshmibai College admitted 116 students in the general category against 39 seats for its Economics (Honours) course, and in Philosophy, the college admitted 105 students against the sanctioned strength of 39. While colleges like Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce, Keshav Mahavidyalaya, and Ram Lal Anand fail to find takers under the reserved category; colleges like Hindu, Sri Ram College of Commerce and Ramjas have classrooms splitting at the seams.
“Taking students according to the intake capacity rather than the sanctioned strength is seemingly impossible as a lot of migrations, withdrawals and admissions take place every day in various colleges of the university”, says Poonam Verma, Principal, Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies. The letter with the new notice has been circulated in all DU colleges and hopefully this step would help put an end to the woes of students seeking admission solely on the basis of reservation.
Pizzarro, an old and very famous food joint located at Hudson Lane, North Campus definitely sticks to the old concept of the ‘all ingredient and no fuss’ Italian food they serve. DUB recently visited the cheery old restaurant and came up with the following pointers to rate it:
Location – Located right 0.5 km away from the GTB Nagar metro station, this place is easily accessible and is commonly visited by students and also families.
Ambience – The place is fit to comfortably accommodate over 40 people, and has a dark but cosy feel to it. With its shiny red sofas and chairs, this restaurant is designed to look exactly like one of the bistros in the city of Rome; this place is a delight for the eye and stomach. The youthful vibe it resonates coupled with the delicious smell of freshly baked pizza appeals to all.
Menu – The menu boasts of having a plethora of quintessential Italian dishes on it. The wide array of spaghettis, lasagnes, slice pizzas and salads makes this place worth the visit. Their ‘Spaghetti Bolognaise in Garlic Sauce’ and ‘Roast Chicken Slice Pizza’ made our mouths water in delight. The wide range of mocktails, drinks and desserts available here make it a good place for a casual lunch or dinner out.
Service – The service was good with the restaurant not being too crowded. The staff was friendly, patient and approachable.
Rates – With Italian cuisine usually leaning towards the expensive side, Pizzaro is surprisingly cheap with the cost for a meal for two being just Rs. 500. The prices are light on the pocket of an average student and completely worth the money spent.
This joint is usually open from 11 AM to 11 PM and offers the facility of home delivery as well. With a great decor, friendly staff and the excellent food; this place is definitely one for our young students!
If you just got yourself enrolled in Delhi University successfully and are not from the capital, here is a warm welcome and a cherry flavored lollipop. We adore sweets.
For many of you, it probably might be the first time that you would leave behind your home and the familiarity of your school hallways and teachers, to be propelled into an unfamiliar territory without your mom to pack your lunch and kiss you goodbye and your dad to just somehow magically find solutions to all your problems, but no fear. College can be a time to reinvent yourself; you are no longer with people who knew you since you were in your nappies. There are new opportunities, new friendships to be made and new places to explore. But the hard part is to pack up your entire old life in a few boxes and try to adapt to a life where laundry just does not appear on your bed, washed and ironed. As an expert in the art of selecting what needs to go in that suitcase and what does not and to prepare oneself for a new life, here are a few tips:
Scout the territory As soon as you are assigned a room as a paying guest or are granted one in the college hostel, scout your space. Check the shelves and wardrobe allotted to you; ask for the number of people sharing that space. Do not forget to ask about the necessary items you need to bring, like mattress or utensils etc.
Illustration Credit: Swati Verma
Segregate The very important thing about college, apart from the studies of course, is your clothes. Fashion aside; do not forget to pack a few basics: Denim jeans, t-shirts, sneakers, tank tops (much needed in the Delhi heat) and sunglasses. As much as you would love to transport your entire wardrobe into your small room in hostel which you would be sharing with another human being, we do not live in Harry Potter. So, segregate into daily wear, for outings, Party wear and whatever suits you’re fancy. I love my shoes, but space restricts me to not bring them all. Anyway, in college you will usually end up wearing two pair at the max daily and Delhi is not short of flea markets selling cheap footwear.
Learn to say no Your book collection might be your pride and joy, but it can live without you. During your term you are bound to amass a lot of books, so there is no need to pack up that Lord of the Ring series. Bring a few coveted copies which you absolutely can’t survive without. I cherish my copy of the perks of being a wallflower and to kill a mocking bird. Your teacher’s will recommend books, your library will invite you to borrow some and Delhi streets will tempt you to but that thrift copy. Don’t worry.
Also, no matter how much your mom loves you, tell her you are not going to reside a house and you do not need a toaster or a pack of plastic water bottles. You can live without them.
Learn about the city Delhi at first might seem daunting, with its maze of streets, but soon you will get used to it. Do check upon how you plan to travel to and fro from campus. If you have never used the metro, try it with someone who knows or yourself if you are up for the challenge.
Buy a city guide. There is no harm, it helps in many ways.
A few days before college starts, try and roam around the area, look for: nearest Metro station, Bus stop, Grocery stores, hospitals, Gym, ATMs, Stationary shop, Salon, Cafe, Restaurants etc. You can also ask your landlady about this or the students already residing there.
Campus Central The best way to learn about the campus is to move around with someone experienced, or two newbie’s will also do. Just scout and talk to various people you find but try not to sound too much like a fresher. Look up the library, canteen and various other facilities. Read up about the college and its history. Do go through the website once.
All in all, remember that you are probably moving in with people who are as clueless about the place and experience as you. It could be a new bonding experience, learning about the place and finding out cheap Chinese delivery restaurants, because trust me, you will need them. Also, remind your Mom that you are not moving into the Bermuda triangle, you can buy the detergent soap she forgot to pack.
School of Open Learning (SOL), University of Delhi, is expecting an increase in number of applications this year. The number of enrolments last year was 1.32 lakhs, and there are chances that there might be an even higher number of applications this year. One reason for this increase might be the sky-high cut-offs of regular colleges that have left SOL as an option for many aspirants.
As reported earlier, the FYUP has not yet been introduced to SOL and might become a part of the institution from the next academic year. As SOL is largely dependent on course material, the authorities are in need of more time to come up with content that is well-suited and as per the requirements of FYUP. The absence of FYUP could be another reason for the higher number of intakes in SOL this year. Many aspirants might be apprehensive about taking up the FYUP in regular colleges, as it is a new development in the University. They might want to follow the tried and tested method instead of the new one.
SOL is now the only institution under the University of Delhi that is still offering the B.A. Programme and B.Com. Programme courses. What attracts most aspirants is the fact that they get the same degree from the University as any other regular college-going student does. SOL students can do other courses or work alongside their correspondence course.
Admission forms for SOL can be submitted latest by 14th August, after which Rs.200 will be charged as late fees till 2nd September.
Everyone has something to say about the high Delhi University cut-offs. As expected, #tweeple cannot be left behind! Perhaps just the reason why we compiled some tweets for a good laugh.
Here are a few laugh-worthy tweets about the Delhi University admission season. In case we missed a good one, share it with us in the comments!
The winner will get admission to Delhi University under Sports quota. #wimbledonfinal
Have you heard of Ishrat Jahan? She was a beautiful nineteen year old second year science student. The second of seven siblings, she had taken the entire responsibility of her family when her father died in 2002. Sounds painful, doesn’t it – to be taking care of a family of nine at the age of seventeen? Well, it gets worse. Ishrat was killed in cold blood on 15th July 2004, and her body, with arms and legs wide open, lay on the outskirts of Ahmedabad for the press to photograph and for strangers to see.
Unbelievable as it may sound to the nineteen year olds reading this, but there are have been many Ishrat Jahans in this country. Many young Muslims accused and killed falsely of terrorism, many Muslim parents with no strength, will and/or resources to fight over their dead brood. In Ishrat’s case, while the Gujarat government has been claiming that she was part of a conspiracy to assassinate Narendra Modi after the Godhra Riots and was a member of Lashkar-e-Taiba, judiciaries of many levels have upheld that her death was part of a staged encounter. Most recently, the CBI in a 1500 page report has claimed that the encounter was fake, and has also named seven police officials in the entire fiasco.
Ishrat’s mother Shamima, despite barely making ends meet with her son’s call center salary, has decided that her daughter deserves justice. For the past nine years, she has struggled to keep her family together, going from one court to another and being overly protective of her other daughters. She has heard neighbours question Ishrat’s character, seen her son leave his studies, and witnessed her daughter being rejected to design school for being related to Ishrat Jahan – and yet, she has fought for every day of these nine painful years, and she has decided to fight till justice knocks at her doorstep. All of this, so that another Ishrat Jahan doesn’t die of being a questionable minority in India.
It’s not easy being a minority in this country. Chances are your entire community lives in a particular area of the city – it’s almost like living the life of an outcaste. You have probably seen varying degrees of stigma and discrimination throughout your life. You may have been accused of terrorism, called an outsider, experienced a riot, lost family and friends. It’s a life most of us can’t comprehend. We will never understand the family’s fear when so called journalists came to their house at 2:30 in the morning; or the heart sinking sensation they felt when someone showed them a picture of Ishrat lying dead with three men; or even how they feel when they see Narendra Modi on TV.
Can you imagine any of this? All of this is the price you pay for being a religious minority in our secular, democratic state. A feeling of helplessness haunts me as I end this piece. I realize that all we can do is hope – hope that Ishrat Jahan gets justice, hope that she rests in peace.
