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Delhi University Panel Finds St Stephen’s College Breached University’s Assistant Professor Shortlisting Criteria

By DU Beat October 19, 2026

A five-member Delhi University Committee panel concluded that St Stephen’s College violated the University’s guidelines for shortlisting Assistant Professor candidates, allegedly to accommodate candidates who were otherwise ineligible.

A Delhi University Committee constituted in late April found that St Stephen’s College had violated the University’s criteria for shortlisting candidates for assistant professor interviews. The college called in more applicants than permitted, allegedly to accommodate candidates who would otherwise have been ineligible for the selection committee to consider.

The committee was constituted in late April after the University’s Executive Council, chaired by Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh, took serious note of alleged violations in faculty recruitment at St. Stephen’s College. Calling the issue “serious”, the council approved the formation of a committee to investigate the matter. The five-member panel thus constituted is headed by Professor Inder Mohan Kapahi, with other members including Aman Kumar, Monica Arora, and L.S. Chaudhary.

According to university norms, only 40 candidates per vacancy and 20 for subsequent vacancies are recommended to be shortlisted for interviews. The committee’s report, accessed by Hindustan Times, stated that the shortlisting criteria are stated in the University’s revised 2024 standard operating procedure (SOP), which was issued for assistant professor recruitment on June 3, 2024. It applies to the recruitment advertisements issued on or after December 1, 2023, and those whose application deadlines fell on or after that date.

The report also observed that a notice on the St Stephen’s College website stated that 70 candidates would be shortlisted for each unreserved vacancy for the post of assistant professor, violating the University’s criteria of 40 candidates per vacancy.

The College issued a recruitment notification in July 2025 for assistant professor posts across several departments: Philosophy, Mathematics, History, English, Hindi, Physics, and Chemistry, along with single vacancies in Computer Science, Sanskrit, Physical Education, Political Science, and Economics.

According to the Panel’s report, it called more than 75 candidates for interviews for each subject, exceeding the prescribed shortlisting limits.

Image Source: Hindustan Times

Sahaj J
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DU Plans To Repurpose Vacant Staff Quarters for Student Housing

By DU Beat October 18, 2026

Delhi University is exploring the conversion of vacant Type-I staff quarters into student accommodation to address hostel shortages and provide affordable housing options for students.

The University of Delhi (DU) is planning to convert vacant Type-I staff quarters into student accommodation to address the shortage of affordable housing, particularly for students coming to Delhi from other states. The proposal follows recommendations by an eight-member committee examining ways to increase the university’s accommodation capacity.

The committee has proposed renovating unused residential quarters at Reids Line and Dhaka campuses in North Campus for student use. Several of these flats have reportedly remained vacant for years, making them potential options for temporary student housing.

The university has already taken steps towards implementing the proposal. At the Postgraduate Men’s Hostel, six vacant Type-I quarters have been renovated, with the university planning to make these rooms available to students from November 2, 2026. The quarters typically consist of a room, a kitchen and a bathroom, and can accommodate students through shared arrangements.

In addition to renovating vacant quarters, DU is considering increasing occupancy in existing hostels by converting single-sharing rooms into double-sharing arrangements wherever feasible. These measures are intended to provide additional accommodation while the construction of new hostels remains dependent on government approvals and funding.

The university’s engineering department has been tasked with conducting a survey to identify other vacant Type-I quarters across its campuses that can be renovated for student accommodation and the proposal has received the Vice-Chancellor’s support.

Meanwhile, the university is working on an online portal to collect information about students’ existing living arrangements, including whether they live with their families, in paying guest (PG) facilities or in shared accommodation. The data is expected to help assess the demand for student housing and assist relevant authorities in evaluating the safety and infrastructure of PG facilities.

The committee has further recommended approaching state governments to explore hostel facilities for students arriving from different parts of the country. States such as Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan account for a significant number of students at DU.

The proposed measures could offer additional housing options to students struggling to find affordable accommodation in the Capital. However, the university’s plans for converting more vacant quarters remain subject to the identification of suitable properties and the necessary approvals.

Image Source- University of Delhi

Aarushi Chaubey

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DUSU Office Bearers to Spearhead Delhi University’s ‘Drug- Free Campus Campaign’

By DU Beat October 17, 2026

Newly elected DUSU office-bearers met DU Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh to discuss wellness centres, women’s safety, hostel facilities and the university’s drug-free campaign.

The newly elected DUSU office-bearers met the Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh on Friday, 16th of October, for a meeting concerning the 2026-27 academic session. The key agenda items included the establishment of wellness centres across DU colleges, with a focus on strengthening women’s safety and improving hostel facilities.

At the meeting, Yogesh Singh congratulated the members on their victory and emphasized that the university belongs to everyone and called for collective efforts to address students’ concerns and advance the institution. He urged them to lead the Delhi University’s ‘Drug- free campus campaign’. He proposed setting up committees and appointing ambassadors in every college and department to facilitate its implementation.

The meeting was attended by DUSU President Yash Dabas, Vice-President Deepanshu Shokeen and Secretary Riya Chhawdi, who assured the Vice Chancellor of their constructive cooperation with the University administration in the interest of the students. Senior University officials, including Dean of Colleges Balaram Pani, Registrar Vikas Gupta, Dean of Students’ Welfare Ranjan Kumar Tripathi and Proctor Manoj Kumar, were also present. Chairperson of the Cultural Council Anoop Lather and DUSU Advisor Surendra Kumar attended the meeting as well.

Singh emphasised his understanding of the challenges faced by students, stating that his own experience as a member of the student community makes him particularly empathetic towards their concerns. He further affirmed that the DUSU administration remains committed to finding suitable solutions to these issues.

Regarding the concerns related to hostels, the Vice-Chancellor informed the student representatives that the university is working on it in “mission mode” and 2-3 new hostels are expected to be ready this year. He also reiterated the administration’s commitment to ensuring a safe environment for female students. On mental health, Singh directed that a counsellor be appointed in every college and asked the DUSU representatives to identify institutions where the post had not been filled.

Ananya Chaturvedi

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Image Credits: Deepanshu Shokeen on X

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DU plans portal to track students in PGs after Satya Niketan Collapse

By DU Beat October 16, 2026

Delhi University plans a portal to track PG accommodation details and improve student housing safety following the Satya Niketan building collapse.

Delhi University (DU) is planning to develop a dedicated portal to collect information about students living in paying guest (PG) accommodations, including rent, facilities and living conditions. The move comes weeks after a five-storey building in Satya Niketan collapsed on September 6, killing seven people, including DU students, and leaving five others injured.

According to a report by Hindustan Times published on October 16, the portal will allow students to register their accommodation details and requirements. The university plans to use this information to coordinate with authorities, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and develop safety standards for PG operators through a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

An eight-member committee was constituted on September 9 following the collapse to examine student accommodation near the university and its colleges. Professor KP Singh, a committee member and head of DU’s Postgraduate Men’s Hostel, told Hindustan Times that while the university maintains records of students living in hostels, similar information about those staying in private PGs is not readily available. The committee plans to collect details about students’ locations, rent and living conditions before consulting relevant authorities on a standard operating procedure (SOP).

Separately, the Delhi government is developing a centralised portal to map student accommodation across the capital. A report by The Indian Express published on October 9 said a high-powered committee chaired by Education Minister Ashish Sood had formed a sub-committee to examine regulatory restrictions affecting PG facilities under the Master Plan for Delhi and the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957.

The government has also proposed joint inspections of 100 PG facilities by the MCD and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). Other proposed measures include CCTV coverage at entry and exit points and common areas, with 40–45 days of recording backup, while keeping personal spaces private.

The committee has also proposed converting around 65 vacant Type-I employee flats at DU’s Reids Line and Dhaka campuses into student housing. Six renovated flats have already created space for approximately 25 students, with allotments expected to begin on November 1.

The recommendations and draft MoU are expected to be submitted within a month. However, the real challenge will lie in implementing these measures effectively and ensuring that students living in private PG accommodations have access to safer, affordable and better-regulated housing.

Image Credit: HT Digital

Manzil Chaudhary

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Campus Central

Hansraj Principal Prof. Rama appointed Director of Delhi School of Journalism

By DU Beat October 15, 2026

Hansraj College Principal Prof. Rama has been appointed Director of the Delhi School of Journalism, in addition to her duties.

The University of Delhi has appointed Professor Rama, Principal of Hansraj College, as Director of the Delhi School of Journalism (DSJ). The notification, dated 15 October 2026 and issued by the Establishment Branch, says the appointment is with immediate effect and until further orders. The appointment comes six days after DSJ students staged a walkout on 8 October during a weekly lecture series, demanding the resignation of OSD Dr. Sanjay Verma over alleged gender and caste discrimination. As Verma took the stage, students walked out, raised posters and slogans and then marched to the Vice-Chancellor’s office. However, the authorities declined to negotiate, and the lectures continued.

Prof. Rama, also referred to as Rama Sharma in some press reports, is a Hindi professor who joined Hansraj College as a lecturer in August 1991, according to her official academic profile. She became the officiating principal in 2015 and was formally appointed in September 2018. She was the first woman and the first member of the Hindi department to head the college.

Her academic background also includes training in journalism. According to her college profile, she holds a Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication from Kota Open University and a diploma in Hindi journalism. Press reports additionally list a diploma from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication and a PhD in journalism and magazine media from the University of Delhi. The Print reports that she worked for Doordarshan and Akashwani before joining Hansraj, and credits her as the author or editor of 31 books, several of them on mass media.

Hansraj College climbed to third place in the NIRF 2025 college rankings, a significant improvement from its 12th-place finish in 2024. The college attributed the rise to infrastructure upgrades and an improved student-teacher ratio. However in March, the DUSU Vice President alleged discrepancies in the data the college submitted which the college denied.

Her tenure has also drawn criticism from sections of students and faculty. The Print reports protests over a cow centre built in 2022, restrictions around the Confluence fest in April and the suspension of about 30 students afterwards, 19 of which had been revoked by early May. The Delhi High Court had also asked the college to explain how a private wedding was permitted on campus. Prof. Rama has however said that students’ complaints about undemocratic conduct are unfounded.

Image credit: Delhi University Official Website

Abhishek Goverdhan

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DU Approves ₹5,889 Crore Hostel Expansion Plan for 21,895 Students

By DU Beat October 14, 2026

Delhi University has approved a ₹5,889 crore hostel expansion plan to accommodate 21,895 students through new hostels and redevelopment projects across multiple campuses amid housing shortages.

The University of Delhi (DU) has approved a ₹5,889 crore plan to expand its hostel infrastructure, aiming to provide accommodation for 21,895 students through new construction and the redevelopment of existing residential facilities.

The proposal was cleared at the university’s 1,284th Executive Council (EC) meeting on October 13, 2026, chaired by Vice-Chancellor Professor Yogesh Singh. The approval comes amid concerns over the limited availability of affordable and safe accommodation for students moving to Delhi for higher education.

Of the total proposed expenditure, ₹4,027 crore has been earmarked for new hostels, which will accommodate 15,758 students. The remaining ₹1,862 crore will fund the reconstruction of Jubilee Hall and the Postgraduate Men’s Hostel, providing residential facilities for another 6,137 students. The university has also confirmed that the names of these existing hostels will remain unchanged after reconstruction.

The expansion will cover several locations, including the Dhaka Complex, Surajmal Vihar and Najafgarh. New hostels for male and female students are also planned at Veer Savarkar College in Roshanpura, Najafgarh, as well as DU’s proposed West Campus in Dwarka and East Campus in Surajmal Vihar, Karkardooma.

The proposed residential complexes will include dining halls, shops, common rooms, reading rooms, and warden accommodation. With limited vacant land available across university campuses, the EC has emphasised making maximum use of the permissible Floor Area Ratio (FAR). Discussions also included high-rise hostel buildings of up to 32 floors wherever space permits.

The university said the designs account for evolving student requirements, with long-term infrastructure planning in mind. The EC has further urged colleges to prepare proposals for constructing hostels on their own premises and submit them to the relevant funding agency.

The approval comes against the backdrop of persistent concerns over student housing in Delhi. A building collapse in Satya Niketan in September, which killed seven people, including five DU students, renewed scrutiny of the shortage of safe accommodation. The Delhi High Court subsequently raised concerns about the inadequate availability of university hostels.

However, the university has not announced a definitive construction or completion timeline for the newly approved projects. Their implementation will depend on subsequent planning and funding processes. The proposal marks a significant step towards expanding DU’s residential capacity, although its impact will ultimately depend on timely execution.

Aarushi Chaubey

[email protected]

Image Source: The Indian Express

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Delhi University Introduces Certificate Course in AI Film Making

By DU Beat October 8, 2026

Delhi University has introduced a new AI Film Making course, teaching learners storytelling, visual creation, editing and sound production while preparing them for emerging opportunities in digital media and filmmaking.

The University of Delhi has introduced a Certificate Course in AI Film Making through its Campus of Open Learning (COL), offering learners structured training in the use of artificial intelligence across different stages of film production.

The three-month offline course has 30 seats and costs ₹15,000. Registration opened on October 5, 2026, and will remain open until October 31. The university has not yet announced the date on which classes will begin. Admission will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to seat availability.

According to NDTV Education, the course will cover ideation, brainstorming, storyboarding, prompt writing, AI-generated images, visual asset creation, video editing, audio and background music production. Students will also undertake activities and projects to apply these skills in AI-assisted film production.

The skills learnt through this course can support entry-level roles such as AI Film Making Assistant, AI-Assisted Content Creator, Junior Video Editor, Visual Content Assistant, Digital Media Content Executive, and Social Media Video Content Creator across film, advertising, digital media, marketing, entertainment and education.

Eligibility extends to anyone who has passed Class 10 from a recognised board and has basic computer literacy can apply, including DU students. Experience with social media content, basic photo or video editing and creating videos using a phone or computer is considered an added advantage, but is not mandatory.

As AI becomes easier to use, an increasing number of creators are experimenting with it to make content. DU’s new course aims to take that experimentation a step further by teaching students how these tools can be used across the film making process. From developing an idea to putting together the final cut, students will get an opportunity to see where AI can fit into different parts of production.

The course provides foundational practical skills and does not guarantee employment; opportunities will depend on the learner’s portfolio, experience, additional skills and other requirements. The programme adds to DU’s growing portfolio of skill-oriented courses as the university expands its offerings in artificial intelligence, digital media and creative technology.

Image Source: University of Delhi, Campus of Open Learning

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DU to Host Second Edition of AVASAR Placement Drive on October 7

By DU Beat October 5, 2026

The University of Delhi’s Central Placement Cell will hold AVASAR 2026 on October 7 at North Campus, with over 85 recruiters and 4,000+ registered students.

The University of Delhi will host the second edition of its placement drive, AVASAR 2026, on October 7, with more than 85 organisations expected to participate and over 4,000 students registered.The event is being organised by the Central Placement Cell (CPC), Delhi University under the Office of the Dean of Students’ Welfare (DSW). It will run from 9 am to 5 pm at the Multipurpose Hall at Gate No 2, G C Narang Marg, North Campus.

AVASAR, earlier referred to as “Job Mela,” is meant to facilitate interaction between students and prospective employers, and to provide employment and internship opportunities across different sectors and professional domains, the university said. It is a part of CPC’s efforts to strengthen engagement between the university and employers and expand students’ access to job and internship opportunities.

Opportunities will be open to all Delhi University students.

Well-known organisations are expected to participate, including SPRIX Japan, Teach for India, Kotak Life, PPG Foundation, Influngio, Surasa, Dear Sir E-Learning, Cambridge School, Bharti Bhawan, Unthinkable Solutions, Muthoot Finance, Verdicto, Connect Jobs, LSSSDC, Intellexia Tech and Hazelnut Cyborg Infra Solutions, among others.

According to the university, the highest annual package on offer is more than Rs 10 lakh, while the highest internship stipend is up to Rs 60,000 per month. Last year’s edition was held on October 8, 2025, at the same venue. Registration was free and closed at 5,000 entries, and students from the School of Open Learning were not eligible.

AVASAR 2026 will bring students and employers together under one platform, offering DU students opportunities to explore careers, secure internships and connect with organisations across diverse professional fields.

Image Credit: Central Placement Cell Website, Delhi University

Aamna Rehman

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DU athletes excel at Asian Games 2026

By DU Beat October 5, 2026

Delhi University’s athletes Ashima Ahlawat, Paritosh and Lakshay Raj Singh represented India at the 2026 Asian Games, bringing shooting, eSports and handball into the university highlights.

Delhi University’s sport’s presence made it to the international arena at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with students and alumni representing India in shooting, eSports and handball. Their journeys spanned different sporting disciplines and highlighted the expanding opportunities available to student athletes.

DU was represented by Ashima Ahlawat, a postgraduate student at Delhi School of Economics and an alumna of Lady Shri Ram College. Ahlawat, who was making her debut at the Asian Games, bagged a silver in the women’s trap team event along with Neeru Dhanda and Manisha Keer. Her medal added a global touch to a shooting career that reportedly started after she saw Indian shooters at the 2018 Asian Games. In an interview with ANI, she acknowledged the narrow difference between finishing second and winning gold, saying,

Gold could have been won somewhere.

She also credited her mother as her biggest source of support.

While Ashima was part of an established Olympic sport, Paritosh carried the DU name in the relatively new domain of competitive eSports. Paritosh, a first-year B.Com (Hons.) student at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, is also a member of ARCADE, Delhi University’s e-sports society. He represented India at the Games in Puyo Puyo Champions where he stood third in his group with two wins and two losses and progressed to the quarter finals. He finished his campaign with a 0-5 loss to South Korea’s Kang Dongshin. The Hindustan Times reported on Paritosh’s evolution from university eSports to the Asian Games and the part ARCADE played in his development.

It gives you a sense of community and support.

said Paritosh about the society itself. This is also a sign of how eSports has been gaining a place in the world of competitive sports, providing Delhi University students with yet another avenue to participate in international sports for India.

Alongside them was Lakshay Raj Singh, a student of law at Delhi University, who participated in handball in the Asian Games for India. Singh has developed his sporting career through playing for Rajasthan in the National Games and for Delhi University in the National University Games. Internationally, he has participated in the World Championship. Participating in the Asian Games was happening at a point in time when he was also involved in university politics, as he contested the 2026 Delhi University Students’ Union elections for joint secretary. The Indian Express, while writing profiles of DUSU candidates, pointed out that Lakshay was a pro handball player who had participated in many international events.

Overall, their achievements showcase the diverse sporting talent emerging from Delhi University and its growing presence on the global stage.

Image credits: Speaks

Aeera Aroush Khan

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DU Quietly Drops Credit Requirement for 2025-26 Batch, Teachers Ask Why

By DU Beat October 3, 2026

Delhi University’s (DU) Controller of Examinations issued a notification this week exempting students of the 2025-26 batch from the credit requirement of earning 28 credits out of 44 for promotion to the next year. The notification says the decision has been taken with approval of the competent authority and that all other provisions remain unchanged. It does not say why.

The 28-credit requirement was introduced under DU’s National Education Policy-based Undergraduate Curriculum Framework, which mandates seven papers per semester. Under the framework, a student had to pass 28 of the 44 total credits from the first two semesters to move into the second year. That bar has now been removed for one batch.

The move has drawn immediate pushback from teachers. Abha Dev Habib, secretary of the Delhi University Teachers’ Federation and associate professor at Miranda House, said the university changed the passing criteria without explaining what circumstances made it necessary. She said,

“Passing criteria for a specific batch (2025-26) are being relaxed without explaining which circumstances, hardships or systemic failure warrant such a change,”

She also pointed to a timing problem. Third semester classes began on 28 July. Results from the first-year examinations were still being declared through August. That means students entered their third semester before it was even clear how many had cleared the promotion bar, and the rule has now been changed after the fact.

Rudrashish Chakraborty, treasurer of the Delhi University Teachers’ Federation and associate professor of English at Kirori Mal College, alleged that the notification reflected incompetence in managing the growing number of papers under NEP and raised questions over whether the relaxation could benefit someone with political connections. The university has not responded to either allegation.

This is not the first time DU has quietly eased promotion rules mid-cycle. In November 2025, it decided to promote all 11,000 students in the 2024-25 postgraduate batch, including those who had failed or not appeared for exams, as a one-time measure tied to a curriculum change. The pattern of one-time exemptions, issued without public explanation and after students have already moved into the next semester, is what teachers say is doing the most damage.

Habib further says that