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DU, often seen as India’s premier public institution, is technically equipped with a flurry of departments, from Finno-Ugric to Persian ones, but given Delhi University’s limited funds, inefficient administration and other maladies which rather famously plague the institution, one does question how well these departments continue to function?

One of my first experiences of the infamous DU chaos was when I visited the Faculty of Arts campus, to sign up for Russian classes, from the Slavonic Studies Department, the only one in the entire country. Not exactly to my surprise, most people I asked had no clue where the department was located within the campus. Eventually, from a back entrance, up a cobweb-covered staircase, I did find the department, a singular hallway with classrooms on either side and an administrative office with an aversion to Gmail.

While my experience was obviously personal to me, the state of our foreign language departments, once created in order to help foster bilateral ties internationally, create a globalized perspective and in general, integrate the Indian student body with the rest of the world. However, some problems continue to persist.

Both the Persian and Slavonic Departments have extremely low research output, as intimated by the information made public on their websites with the latter showing only 18 research candidates between 2004 and 2017.

Departments like those of Germanic and Romance Studies, simply do not seem to have functioning websites, which raises questions as to how interested students are to access crucial information regarding syllabi with ease, without even getting into the lack of awareness given the inaccessibility. Similarly, the epartment of Arabic studies, too, doesn’t have its own website to access.

Furthermore, a quick glance at the respective syllabi raises questions about its relevance, especially in comparison to universities abroad, which have far more extensive, well-rounded and relevant curriculums as related to DU whose department plans consist primarily of standard, older syllabi plans, with little to no practical component.

These foreign language departments are usually aimed at fostering a sense of internationalism and facilitating India’s international relations ties, by creating academics and linguists who could encourage and foster a sense of globalism. But, as these departments blend into the shadows, it makes us question if India’s premier institution is losing its sense of internationalism, as a whole.

Image credits – DU Beat

Chaharika Uppal

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DUB News

EWS Quota: Ph.D. and MPhil Students to Receive the Benefit

By Shaurya Thapa May 28, 2019

The University of Delhi has decided to increase the total number of seats in order to implement the 10% Economically Weaker Sections (quota). The increase in seats will be implemented in two phases- 10% in 2019 and 15% in 2020.

After approval of the provision of reservations for economically weaker section students (EWS) in Central Education Institution, the Delhi University decided to increase the total seats by 25% in two phases- 10% in 2019 and 15% in 2020. The provision for reservations for economically weaker sections has been provided for in the 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act, which provides for the advancement of the “economically weaker sections” of the society.

Earlier, 15% of seats were reserved for SCs, 7.5% for STs, 27% for OBCs, 5% for PWD, 5% for CW category, 5% for Foreign Nationals and 5% for Sports/ECA people.
The increase in seats is to be implemented in order to ensure that the students of the general category are not at a disadvantage because of the increase in total percentage of reserved seats. The seats for MPhil and PhD section of Mathematics, Science, Commerce and Social Science will increase with the enforcement of 10% quota. The seats are likely to be increased by 148 for the reserved categories.

Professor Hansraj Suman, Chairman of Delhi University SC/ST/ OBC said, “Currently 660 seats are sanctioned under MPhil programme, in which 467 aspirants were admitted while 237 seats remained vacant in the previous academic session. In allotted 467 seats, seats allotted for the general candidate- 246, OBC-116, SC-69, ST-36, and PWD – 16 got admission in the previous year. With the enforcement of EWS, seats secured to the general candidates are 338, OBC 182 and SC 101, ST 51, EWS 68 seats.

For the same, the PhD has 800 seats in total in which 500 seats are sanctioned for general candidates, OBC 156, SC 110, ST 34, and PwD 15, whereas with the enforcement of EWS quota, 400 seats are for general candidates, OBC 216, SC 120, ST 60, EWS 80,” as quoted in Millenium Post.

Professor Suman added that the Dean has also informed him that due to the increase of 10 percent EWS seats, a teacher can also appoint researcher as their subordinate research director under the UGC rules. And as per the rules, 8 PhDs and 3 MPhil students can do their research work with a professor, while with associate professor 6 PhDs and 2 MPhil students can do their research work and with an assistant professor, 4 Ph.D. and 1 MPhil.

Abha Dev Habib, a DUTA member told DU Beat, “The last time when there was an increase in number of seats because of a resolution for 27% reservation for OBC students, the University was provided with funds to improve the infrastructure of colleges and to recruit more teachers but the process is still incomplete as formal letters were not issued and the required number of posts were not released. Now, for 10% EWS quota, 25% of total seats are to be increased but no provision for improvement in infrastructure has been provided. This will lead to overcrowded classrooms and in order to impart quality education it is necessary to maintain the required student-teacher ratio.”
She further added, “Around 60-70 percent of the students will be from the reserved categories which make it necessary to give more focus on improving the quality of education and equipping the labs with proper equipment in order to make the degree meaningful for them.”
However, many other changes have also been suggested by the admission committee in order to make the admission procedure simpler and more efficient, which includes developing a mechanism to avoid duplication of registration data. The University has decided to share filled up dummy forms release tutorial videos on its official website to guide students on how to fill the forms. The committee has also decided to finish the admission procedure before the session commences. However, there have been constant delays in releasing of admission forms and it is now confirmed by the Dean of Students Welfare, DU that the forms will be out in the beginning of June.
On the issue of delay in commencement of the admission procedure, Abha Dev Habib said that the delay is because of the new changes that are being made in the process. She went on to add that the introduction of new changes every year is very unsettling and the University should try to get done with the process soon as usually, the admissions go on till September which makes it difficult for the students to put up with the semester system.

On Monday, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidya Parishad (ABVP) submitted a letter to the varsity administration in order to inquire about the delay in the beginning of the admission process. They also urged them to initiate the process quickly and remarked that the delay is worrisome for the students.

Featured Image Credits- The Indian Express
Priya Chauhan
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Admissions 2016

DU to introduce a range of new courses for the academic session 2016

By Shagun Marwah April 11, 2016

Gone are the days when students aspiring to gain admission in Delhi University had to settle for all regular undergraduate subjects found in majority of the colleges. This year, Delhi University has decided to give the dreams of such aspirants a greater push by introducing a range of 25 new courses in various colleges across the campus from the new academic session.

According to officials, more than 30 colleges had granted permission in February and approved of getting these courses started from the year 2016 itself. These courses will not only give students the flexibility to choose from a greater list of subjects but also give those who may not be able to score as high or as per the cut-offs, a much better chance of securing their place in the most desired university of India, due to increase in the number of seats in many colleges.

The new academic session that will begin from August 2016, will therefore give everyone something new to look forward to, in almost every college. For instance, Forensic Science (H), a subject that has never been offered before in the University of Delhi, will be introduced for the very first time in Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur (SGTB) Khalsa College to give students an opportunity to study a richer application of Science pertaining to criminal and civil laws.

Similarly, colleges that had earlier shunned certain subjects away, have now decided to begin these courses to retain an overall distribution of all subject streams which the students are passionate to pursue. The list of some of these newly offered courses in colleges include: Political Science (H) in St. Stephen’s College and Bharati College; History (H) in Bhagini Nivedita College, Shaheed Bhagat Singh College and Aryabhatta College; Bachelor of Business Studies (BBS) in Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce (SGGSCC), Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur (SGTB) Khalsa College and Ramanujan College; Maths (H) in Gargi College; Computer Science (H) in Sri Guru Nanak Dev (SGND) Khalsa College, Aryabhatta College, Shivaji College and SGTB Khalsa College; Chemistry (H) in Rajguru College of Applied Sciences; and a course of Mechanical Engineering in Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology (NSIT).

Thus, with such an interesting stream of courses, Delhi University does not only provide a longer list of options for all eager aspirants but is also liable to get the current availability of 54,000 seats easily increased with an introduction of these courses in as many as 30 colleges across the campus. The admission process is most likely to begin from 25^th May with its first cut-off list to be out by 22^nd June, 2016.

DU Beat wishes everyone good luck!

Picture Credits: www.dailymail.co.uk
Shagun Marwah
[email protected]

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Admissions 2014

Students advised to choose course over college at fourth open day

By Shaily Sharma May 25, 2014

On Saturday, 24^th May 2014, Open day organized by the Dean of Student’s Welfare Association was held at SP Jain Centre in South Campus. The auditorium was jam-packed with aspiring students, parents and members of the organizing committee, twenty minutes before the program actually started. Dr. Dinesh Varshney , Deputy Dean- Student’s Welfare, South Campus, commenced the interaction session by introducing the student volunteers and the speakers.

The student volunteers gave a presentation introducing the University, courses offered, admission criterion and eligibility. The presentation also highlighted the schedule of admission, admission information centres, documents required at the time of admission, reservations, hostel facilities and entrance tests.

Following the presentation, Dr Minoti Chatterjee, Principal of Kamala Nehru College, addressed the gathering. She advised “Students should look at all the college websites, read the prospectus of various colleges, visit the college campus if time allows, choose a college which is nearby their residence and choose the course rather than the college”. She also talked about the exit points of the FYUP.

Prof. Avinashi Kapoor (Joint Dean Students Welfare) greeted the turnout. He said “Our education system doesn’t stimulate all 500 neurons; there is still lot to be done with the system. It is a misnomer that FYUP is very different from what other universities of India provide. In fact, it is something in addition.”

After Prof. Kapoor’s talk, Dr. Gyantosh Jha (Principal, ARSD College), Dr. Ajay Arora (Principal, Deshbandhu College) and Dr. Purabi Saikia (Principal, Bhagini Nivedita College) addressed the mass. They discussed FYUP, the Discipline Courses, the advantages of major and minor subjects under FYUP, facilities provided by the University.

The first session ended with the doubt clearing round, where Dr. Gulshan Sahani answered queries of the students and parents, followed by the second and third session. “The session was informative, almost all our queries are solved. The only thing I could say is that it should have been more elaborate discussion on the course content rather than focusing on the university” says Kanika Kalra, a student aspirant.

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