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Kamala Nehru College Earns DU’s First ‘Zero-Waste Institution’ Recognition

By DU Beat June 28, 2026

Kamla Nehru College has been recognised as the first ‘Zero-Waste Institution’ under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, marking an important step toward sustainable campus practices.

The college was conferred with the certificate on 30 April by Shashwat Saurabh, Deputy Commissioner of the Central Zone, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026.

The college’s programme, titled Awareness on Zero-Waste Management Practices, began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, followed by an address from the Principal, Prof. Pavitra Bhardwaj. Addressing the gathering, she reflected on KNC’s journey since its establishment in 1964 and stated that the college remained committed to maintaining an eco-friendly campus. She also highlighted the role of the college’s Solid Liquid Resource Management (SLRM) Committee, which works in collaboration with the MCD to facilitate sustainable waste management practices.

The programme was also attended by Dr Rajiv Nayan, Assistant Commissioner, Central Zone, MCD, and Shammi Talwar, Brand Ambassador for the MCD’s Swachh Survekshan campaign. Talwar pointed to the growing problem of waste accumulation in the city and emphasised that waste segregation and proper disposal must begin at the source, including within individual households.

In his address, Chief Guest Shashwat Saurabh laid particular emphasis on collective action in tackling waste management, highlighting the importance of public participation in addressing the issue. He also commended the efforts of the MCD’s sanitation workers and urged students to fulfil their civic responsibilities.

Speaking to DU Beat, the President of KNC’s Student Council, Rajeshwari Shelke, said,

I feel immensely proud that Kamala Nehru College has been recognised as a Zero-Waste Institution. This achievement reflects the dedication of our students and the unwavering commitment of the college towards sustainability. Together, we’ve created a campus where responsible choices inspire lasting change.”

The programme concluded with a skit performed by members of the college’s SLRM Committee, highlighting the importance of effective waste management. The Chief Guest then distributed participation certificates to the students before presenting the Principal with the ‘Zero-Waste Institution’ certificate.

Read also: NEET UG Re-Exam Dress Code Enforcement Sparks Debate.

Image Credits: Kamla Nehru College Official Instagram

Kaustubh Dwivedi
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DUB News

UGC NET 2026 Aspirants Allege Repetition of Questions in English Paper

By DU Beat June 26, 2026

UGC NET aspirants have alleged that the June 2026 English paper repeated questions from the December 2024 examination, prompting concerns over fairness and examination practices.

The UGC NET English examination held on 25 June 2026 has sparked discussion among aspirants after candidates alleged that multiple questions were repeated from the December 2024 UGC NET English examination.

Soon after the examination concluded, aspirants began sharing comparisons of the two papers on social media, claiming that several questions, along with their answer options, had been repeated without any changes. An Instagram reel highlighting the similarities has since gained traction among candidates.

An independent review of the two papers by DU Beat found that several questions appear to be identical in wording, answer options, and correct answers. However, the June 2026 paper is not identical to the December 2024 paper, as it also contains questions that did not appear in the earlier examination.

The concerns surrounding the UGC NET English paper also arise against the backdrop of heightened scrutiny of the integrity of national entrance examinations following the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy. The similarities have led some aspirants to question whether the extent of repetition could affect the fairness of the examination, particularly if previous years’ papers were more accessible to some candidates than to others. Others, however, have argued that competitive examinations often reuse questions from previous years and that such repetition does not necessarily indicate malpractice. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has not issued any official statement addressing the alleged repetition of questions in the English paper.

Several inconsistencies have also been identified across social media posts. While one widely circulated reel claimed that the 25 June UGC NET English paper was largely identical to the December 2024 examination, another video alleged that it was instead a replica of the January 2025 paper, further claiming that 67 out of 100 questions had been repeated.

These conflicting claims make it difficult to independently verify the extent or source of the alleged repetition based on social media posts alone and underscore the need to rely on verified comparisons of the question papers.

At present, there is no evidence to suggest that the alleged repetition of questions in the UGC NET English paper resulted from a paper leak or any other form of examination malpractice. Nevertheless, the similarities have prompted candidates to question the integrity and fairness of the examination process and seek clarification from the NTA.

Image Source: india.com

Aarushi Chaubey

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News

NEET UG Re-Exam Dress Code Enforcement Sparks Debate

By DU Beat June 26, 2026

Strict dress code enforcement for the NEET UG re-examination on June 21 triggered a national debate over dignity, religious freedom and exam integrity.

For many candidates appearing in the NEET UG re-examination, the challenge began before they even entered the hall. Stringent dress code enforcement left students across the country questioning where security ends and dignity begins.

The re-examination came in the wake of the cancellation of the May 3 exam following reports of paper leaks in several states. According to the official NTA notice, candidates were advised to wear light clothing, avoid shoes, metallic accessories, jewellery and electronic devices.

In Delhi, Era, who appeared for the re-examination, described the entry process as “traumatising”. Despite arriving nearly an hour before the gates closed and adhering to the prescribed dress code, she was asked to remove her footwear, undo her braided hair, and surrender a religious thread she was wearing. While she acknowledged the intent behind the measures, she questioned their efficacy. “The safety measures are there, but are they working? That’s the question,” she told DU Beat.

Srishti, another candidate from Delhi, described the security checks as “extensive”. She recalled being asked to leave behind her handkerchief and medication. “Luckily, in my case, the discomfort was just the lack of a handkerchief. But I feel, in many cases, it can go a bit extreme”, she said in conversation with DU Beat.

Beyond Delhi, the examination was accompanied by a series of events that raised questions about the implementation of security checks, as reported by Times of India. In Gujarat, students were asked to remove sacred threads and kanthi necklaces, triggering protests outside examination centres. In Rajasthan, eighteen-year-old Kulsum Bano alleged she was stopped from entering her centre because she was wearing a burqa, even though the NTA’s advisory permitted religious dress subject to early reporting. In West Bengal’s Malda, a female candidate alleged she was subjected to an intrusive security check and was asked to lower her clothing to verify the presence of a sanitary pad during frisking. The incident prompted sharp condemnation by students and the Democratic Medical Association , on account of the violation of bodily autonomy.

For many candidates, the issue was not the existence of security checks but the manner in which they were carried out. As the debate continues, the challenge remains: ensuring examination integrity without compromising the dignity of students.

Image Source: The Hindu

Rishika Jain

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DUB News

Delhi University Moves Up Six Places in QS World Rankings 2027

By DU Beat June 25, 2026

Delhi University secured a global rank of 322 in the QS World University Rankings 2027, up from 328 last year, with significant improvements in research citations and sustainability.

The Delhi University has climbed six places in the QS World University Rankings 2027, securing a global rank of 322 compared to 328 in the previous edition. The university has also retained its position as India’s highest-ranked public university and remains seventh overall among all higher education institutions in the country.

The QS World University Rankings 2027 evaluated 8,808 institutions worldwide, with 1,504 universities from 106 countries and territories making the final list. Among the 52 Indian institutions featured, Delhi University has continued to strengthen its standing at both the national and international levels.

While the six-place rise in the overall rankings is noteworthy, the most significant improvement came in Citations per Faculty, where DU jumped 85 places globally, from 403rd to 318th. This reflects the growing quality, visibility, and impact of the university’s research output. As this metric typically changes gradually, such a substantial rise in a single edition is particularly significant.

The university also recorded notable progress in sustainability, climbing 57 places from 297th to 240th globally. Its Employer Reputation ranking improved by 15 positions, rising from 319th to 304th. DU’s overall score increased from 42.6 in the 2026 rankings to 43.8 in the 2027 edition. Among Indian institutions, Delhi University ranked second in Employment Outcomes, fourth in Sustainability (up from sixth in 2026), fourth in International Research Network, and sixth in Academic Reputation, maintaining its position in the latter category from the previous year.

One indicator that remained unchanged was Academic Reputation, where Delhi University continues to rank sixth among Indian universities. This metric reflects how academics assess the quality of teaching and research at an institution.

Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh attributed the improvement to a collective institutional effort. He stated:

The rise in our global standing, along with the university’s position among India’s leading institutions, demonstrates the strength of our academic ecosystem and our commitment to excellence in teaching, research, innovation, sustainability, and societal engagement.

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons

Abhishek Goverdhan

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Campus Central

CJP Protest Jantar Mantar Enters Fifth Day with Educators’ Addresses

By DU Beat June 25, 2026

CJP protest’s fifth day at Jantar Mantar swapped slogans for lectures. Educators addressed demonstrators, while the demand for a National Student Commission was reiterated.

The CJP protest at Jantar Mantar entered its fifth day on Wednesday, with educators Prof. Dr Vijender Chauhan, Delhi University; Vikramjeet Singh and Abhinay Sharma addressing demonstrators. Organisers reiterated their demand for the establishment of a National Student Commission, stating that the protest would continue until the government responds.

Dr Chauhan emphasised the need for diversity within the movement and the bureaucracy. Speaking to DU Beat, Dr Chauhan said,

Real change won’t come from a crowd that all look the same. Without that diversity, the fight simply can’t be won. “

Singh’s remarks focused on education funding and the credibility of national exams. He said the NEP 2020 and global benchmarks recommend public education spending of around 6% of GDP, against actual spending of 2.5%-4%. He linked the funding gap to poor school infrastructure, teacher shortages, faculty vacancies and a weak research ecosystem, which he said disproportionately affects rural and marginalised students.

Sharma’s remarks ranged more broadly, touching on other national issues, including media coverage, the Andaman Islands and renewed calls for the Union Education Minister’s resignation.

The protest, which began earlier this month, continues to demand the establishment of a National Student Commission of India. CJP says it won’t leave until the government agrees. At this time, the government has not publicly responded to the pressure group’s demand.

The CJP protest at Jantar Mantar continued into its fifth day with cultural performances alongside the day’s lectures, with performances by artists, musicians and poets at the site. During the rainfall on Wednesday evening, protesters were seen dancing together at Jantar Mantar.

While talking to DU Beat, one protestor called it a “controlled blast”, alleging it has allowed people to express their anger without tangible outcomes. Although the CJP promised 50% women’s participation, the organisation has yet to announce an official woman spokesperson nineteen days after its first protest.

Image Credits: Mayank for DU Beat

Mayank Kushwaha

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Admissions

DU Releases Second Round of CSAS-PG Seat Allocation List; Seat Acceptance Ends Today

By DU Beat June 24, 2026

Delhi University has announced the second round of PG seat allocations under CSAS-PG 2026. Candidates must accept the allotted seats by June 24, while fee payment remains open until June 27.

DU is conducting admissions to postgraduate programmes for the 2026-27 academic session on the basis of scores obtained in the Common University Entrance Test (Postgraduate), or CUET-PG. The university allocates seats based on candidates’ entrance examination scores, programme preferences, and seat availability through the Common Seat Allocation System for Post-graduate Programmes [CSAS-PG].

According to an official notice issued by the University of Delhi Admission Branch, the second round of seat allocation results for post-graduate admissions has been released. As per the admission schedule, applicants who accept their allotted seats will be able to pay the admission fee until June 27. The second round of allocations was announced on June 22, hence continuing the ongoing postgraduate admission process.

The university has made 2964 fresh allocations across various postgraduate programmes during the second round. Alongside the allocation list, DU has also released programme-wise minimum allocation scores for candidates. Candidates can log in using their credentials to view their allotment status and complete the required admission formalities within the given time. Admission data released by the university indicates significant participation in the first round of admissions, with over 8,000 candidates completing the process by paying the prescribed fees. Though several students have opted for upgradation in subsequent rounds, others have chosen to retain their allotted seats.

As the second round is underway, candidates are advised to check their allotment status carefully and complete all the required admission formalities within the stipulated time. Failure to meet the deadlines for seat acceptance or fee payment may result in the cancellation of the allotted seat

Students should regularly monitor official university notifications through the admission portal and the CSAS-PG portal for updates regarding future allocation rounds, upgrades, and admission-related announcements. The postgraduate admission process is expected to continue through additional rounds of allocation based on seat availability and candidate preferences.

Image Credits: Devesh for DU Beat

Aarushi Chaubey

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DUB News

Non-teaching staff member demands bribe to settle UFM case at Hansraj

By DU Beat May 18, 2026

Mr Kapil, a non-teaching staff member at Hansraj College, University of Delhi, following a case of UFM (Unfair Means and Conduct) concerning a student, requested an iPhone 17 Pro as bribe for “settling the case” with the authorities.

An anonymous student source, in conversation with DU Beat, said that the accused student in question was caught with his phone during examinations and subsequently got charged with an offence, leading to an Unfair Means and Conduct (UFM) case from the college. Since the student was supposedly from a “privileged” family, Mr Kapil, a member of the non-teaching staff at Hansraj College, who assists students with exam-related issues, chose to use the case to his advantage and extort money from the student.

Mr Kapil said that he would take care of the case and accompany the accused student during the hearing since he wouldn’t be able to handle it on his own. He clarified that his assistance would be in exchange for a new iPhone. The student raised a concern stating that it would not be possible for him to withdraw a large sum of money from his parents’ accounts unnoticed, but Mr Kapil kept insisting, asking if he could make use of UPI applications such as Paytm to transfer the money.

The student eventually conceded, saying that it would take two months to arrange for all of the money needed to purchase a new phone since he would need to take the money out in small amounts so as not to raise suspicions. However, Mr Kapil refused, stating that the timeline is too long, leading the student to conceive an alternative plan. He said that being a content creator gave him access to several events and that he would secure a phone from one of them for Mr Kapil, insinuating motives for theft.

Mr Kapil’s perpetual insists for a new phone led the student to state that he would give up his own iPhone 17 to Mr Kapil and arrange for another phone for himself. They settled with this agreement and met up near the Vishwavidhyala metro station. Following the meeting, Mr Kapil claimed that he spoke to the university official concerned and did what he could, and that he would also try to reach out through a friend. When the student asked how much money would be needed to bribe said friend, Mr Kapil demanded 30,000-35,000 rupees. The student, unable to meet the demand, proposed offering his personal iPhone 13.

Mr Kapil later quoted an additional amount as bribe, saying that the case would take a lot of work and that the final price would be around 70k to 80k, as stated by the university official. The student filed a case with CBI, stating extortion, bribery, and intimidation as the cause. He reported Mr Kapil’s act of corruption to the authorities, describing the case and stating the unlawful demand.

Image source: DU Speaks

Sammepya Karray

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DUB News

Delhi University begins postgraduate admissions for 2026-27 academic session

By DU Beat May 18, 2026

Delhi University has opened PG admissions for the 2026-27 academic session under NEP 2020. Read on to see eligibility, registration dates, application fees, and more.

The University of Delhi (DU) has officially announced the start of admissions for its postgraduate (PG) programmes for the academic session 2026-27. Under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Delhi University will now offer two types of Master’s programmes:

Two-Year Master’s Degree Programme – The traditional route, open to students from any recognised university across India.
One-Year Master’s Degree Programme – A new, shorter route under NEP, available only to eligible Delhi University students.

The university has also confirmed that registrations are now open for Two-Year Master’s Degree Programmes, while a separate portal and schedule for One-Year Master’s Degree Programmes will be announced by the university in due course.

Students who are currently in the third year or fourth year of their undergraduate degree from any recognised university are eligible to apply for the Two-Year Master’s programme at Delhi University.

However, they must meet a few important conditions:

First, the candidate must have appeared in the CUET (PG) 2026 exam in the relevant subject papers. Second, the candidate must meet all programme-specific eligibility criteria as mentioned in the PG Bulletin of Information 2026. Finally, seat allocation will be done strictly through the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS-PG) portal, based only on CUET (PG) 2026 scores.

The registration window for Two-Year PG programmes is now open.

Registration Portal: pgadmission.uod.ac.in
Registration Start Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
Registration Last Date: 11:59 PM, Sunday, June 7, 2026

There is also a one-time, non-refundable CSAS (PG) 2026 application fee charged per programme:

SC/ST/PwBD candidates: Rs. 100 per programme
UR/OBC-NCL/EWS candidates: Rs. 250 per programme

Since the fee is per programme, students applying to multiple programmes will need to pay the fee for each one separately.

This year, Delhi University has introduced a new auto-integration feature for applicants. Using the DigiLocker and API Setu platform, the university will automatically extract key details of the candidates, including the candidate’s name, date of birth, gender, category, parents’ names, and CUET PG 2026 scores.

Delhi University recognises the efforts made by the NTA (National Testing Agency) for integrating student data into a national registry and sharing it securely with universities.

This step aims to improve data accuracy, reduce errors, strengthen data security, and support the broader Digital India vision of making government-to-citizen (G2C) services more accessible.

Delhi University has clarified that the One-Year Master’s Programme will be open only to specific DU students. To be eligible, a student must have completed or be completing either a Four-Year Bachelor’s Honours Degree with Research or Entrepreneurship, or A Four-Year Bachelor’s Degree with a Major in the relevant subject.

Along with these conditions, students must also meet any other eligibility requirements specified for their chosen programme.

The University of Delhi has advised all candidates to regularly visit the official admissions website at admission.uod.ac.in for updates on admission status, important schedules, and new announcements.

Given the two-portal system this year, one for the Two-Year Master’s Degree Programme, already live at pgadmission.uod.ac.in and one for the One-Year Master’s Degree Programme (coming soon), students are advised to check the website frequently and ensure they are applying on the correct portal for their chosen programme.

Image source: Telegraph India

Arshia Sharma

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DUB News

AADTA-led Teachers across DU Stage Protest for Regularisation of Ad Hoc Faculty

By DU Beat May 17, 2026

AADTA-led teachers protested at Delhi University against delays in regularisation and promotions of ad hoc faculty in 12 colleges, demanding recruitment approvals and implementation of the High Court’s 2025 judgement.

On Friday May 15, members associated with the Academic for Action and Development Delhi Teachers’ Association (AADTA) staged a protest calling out the lack of regularisation and promotion to permanent positions of the ad hoc teachers working in 12 colleges across Delhi University. The association called for immediate action and for the immediate approval of ex post facto sanctions for posts, enabling colleges to commence recruitment processes without delay.

The protest saw wide support from the teaching staff across the university. Academic Council members, Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) executive members and office-bearers of several college staff associations participated in the protest, the organisation shared in a statement. Additionally, presidents of staff associations from Bhagini Nivedita College, College of Vocational Studies, and Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College also expressed solidarity with the demands during the protest.

Former Executive Council member and AADTA member Rajesh Jha said,

“DU has done away with the ad hoc system in other colleges, which naturally leads to a feeling of insecurity among these teachers as they have no idea where they stand.” Mr Jha said the issue emerged due to the limited number of sanctioned posts created in 2010-2011.

“A total of 301 posts were sanctioned in these 12 colleges, but those were not enough. Currently, there are around 1,000 teachers, including permanent and ad hoc faculty, working in these colleges,” he said.

The association’s demand is with relation to the Delhi High Court’s judgement of the Namita Khare case in which a teacher from the Department of Germanic and Romance Studies demanded regularisation after her prolonged ad hoc status. She had been an ad hoc teacher for 8 years, yet her pay grade and teaching position remained unchanged. The court ruled that long-serving ad-hoc teachers should be made permanent and regularised, underlining that the ruling should be enforced “in letter and spirit”.

In conversation with DU Beat, Bimlendu Tirthunker, the secretary of DUTA and a member of AADTA, said,

“The teachers that we are raising this issue for have been teaching for more than 18-20 years; the lack of regularisation really affects their lives in terms of low pay scale and other benefits. They are not in a position to switch jobs. It is a duty on a human level to give them a permanent position.”

He further added,

‘The DUTA delegation had previously met Rekha Gupta with this grievance, and she gave us reassurance, but it still isn’t getting implemented.’ Our simple demand is for the administration to follow directions given by the Delhi High Court in the Namita Khare case with immediate effect.’

Read Also: The Age of Automated Academia
Image Credits-Facebook Page of AADTA

Divyanshi Dusad
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Delhi University’s Revised Datesheet Raises Concerns as Sunday Exams Overlap with PG Entrances

By DU Beat May 15, 2026

Delhi University’s revised May-June 2026 exam datesheet has scheduled papers on Sundays, clashing with several national postgraduate entrance examinations, affecting thousands of final-year students.

Delhi University recently revised its undergraduate examination schedule for May-June 2026. The exams begin on May 16 and will now end by June 14, instead of June 19 as originally planned. To fit everything into this shorter window, the university has scheduled some papers on Sundays as well. For thousands of final-year students, such a decision could take a serious toll on their future.

The Controller of Examinations, Gurpreet Singh Tuteja, explained that the schedule was changed because Semester 6 and Semester 8 students may need to appear for other exams, interviews, or job opportunities. Ironically, this statement refutes its own claims as the revised schedule clashes directly with some of the most important entrance examinations in the country.

The GCET Round 2 of the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE), Pune, for admission to eight distinct MSc and MA programmes in Economics; the entrance exam of the Madras School of Economics for five postgraduate programmes in economics and finance; the Wildlife Institute of India’s entrance for its MSc in Freshwater Ecology and Conservation; and the UP B.Ed. JEE 2026, are all scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 31, 2026, one of the dates on which DU has also scheduled its end-sem exams. The dates for all of these exams were announced weeks in advance and are widely available in the public domain.

It is a well-known fact that entrance exams across India are almost universally scheduled on Sundays and it’s a deliberate, longstanding practice to avoid clashing with the weekday commitments of the candidates. Such an overlap has raised serious questions about administrative coordination, with students and teachers calling for an immediate and effective review of the datesheet.

Delhi University has, for decades, carried with itself, the legacy of producing undergrad students who go on to pursue their careers in the country’s most premier postgraduate colleges, but this time, the same students have been brought to a standpoint, forced to choose between their degree and their future at these institutions.

The university’s concern for the welfare of its Semester 6 and Semester 8 students, if genuine, must extend beyond how fast the examinations can be wrapped up and must most definitely take into account the bigger goals and aspirations of the students after these exams get over. Additionally, the fix is neither complicated nor costly. The original schedule which ran until June 19 provided adequate space. Reinstating that window, or redistributing the affected papers across available weekdays, would help resolve the conflict.

Students and teachers have already registered their objections to the revised datesheet. The university administration has both the information and the authority needed to address these concerns and one would hope they act on them before the students are forced to bear the consequences.

The issue, ultimately, is not just about revising a schedule, but also about the administration’s apparent unwillingness to recognise what students stand to lose because of it.

Image Source: Telegraph India

Arshia Sharma

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