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Delhi University student petitions High Court for separate vegetarian mess facilities

By DU Beat May 8, 2026

A petition was filed before the High Court by a student frustrated with the lack of vegetarian-only food facilities. The issue has revived food-related debates among students.

A Delhi University student has filed a petition before the Delhi High Court asking for separate, vegetarian-only food facilities in hostel messes and college canteens across the university. The petition was filed on Wednesday and is likely to be up for hearing in the following days.

Vijeta, the petitioner, filed the plea through advocate Barun Kumar Sinha. She took the step after finding issues with her women’s hostel. In her petition, she stated that she was “directly and substantially” affected by the vegetarian and non-vegetarian food being prepared and served together in her hostel mess.

She went on to say that the lack of segregation had caused her “grave prejudice”, inconvenience, and violation of her rights. She also alleged that food safety regulations and hygiene standards are being broken regularly. According to Vijeta, no action was taken despite raising this issue multiple times with hostel staff and officials.

The petition seeks to direct authorities to set up separate vegetarian mess facilities at a reasonable distance from areas where non-vegetarian food is cooked and served. It also seeks proper segregation of veg and non-veg food in storage and serving areas across hostels and canteens, along with strict compliance with food safety and hygiene laws. The petitioner has further asked for a clear policy for students with strict vegetarian dietary requirements, an adjustment in mess charges for those using only vegetarian facilities, and a grievance redressal mechanism so students have a proper and timely way to raise complaints related to mess and canteen services.

Such issues are not new to the university. Food-related tensions have been faced commonly in the past few years. In January 2023, Hansraj College quietly stopped serving non-vegetarian food in its canteen and hostel after it resumed classes post-COVID. The decision came as a shock to many.

A second-year student at the time told news agency ANI,

“Earlier, non-veg food used to be served, but suddenly non-veg food and eggs were stopped. The students who have come from the south face a lot of issues because they have the habit of eating non-veg.”

In mid-2025, a similar controversy broke out at JNU’s Mahi-Mandavi hostel, where a “veg-only” notice appeared in the mess. The JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) reacted strongly, with president Nitesh Kumar calling it an attempt to divide students and a violation of hostel norms.

The current petition has also triggered mixed reactions on campus and on social media. Some students claim they feel genuinely uncomfortable when meat is cooked in shared kitchens. A student of Hansraj College had earlier told ANI, “People who want to eat non-veg can have it outside. Students are happy with vegetarian food.” The issue has also sparked significant online discourse. “If a student has raised it through the proper legal channel, the court should at least listen,” one DU student posted on Instagram.

The Delhi High Court is yet to take up the case for a formal hearing. No response has been given by Delhi University or the government so far. The petition is expected to come up before the court in the coming days.

Image source: Live Law

Arshia Sharma

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DUB News

Datesheet dilemma finally ends; Last date to fill the examination form passes.

By DU Beat May 8, 2026

After many drafts and meetings the final date sheet was uploaded, changing the examination dates for Semester 6th and 8th students. This comes after the final date for filling the examination form with late fee passed on the 7th of May.

On 7th May, between 7:18PM and 7:25PM, the examination date sheet got updated by Delhi University, changing the exam dates for Semester 6 and 8 students. This change came a few hours before the last time students of regular, NCWEB (Non-Collegiate Women’s Education Board), and SOL (School of Open Learning) could fill up the examination form with late fees.

The final date sheet has preponed the exams for 6th and 8th semester. Exams will now take place earlier. As an example, previously DSE exams for semester 8 were to be conducted on 18th May, 15th, 17th and 18th of June respectively but now it will be conducted on the 18th and 20th May, and 7th and 14th June,2026. Similarly, many semester 6 exams are now pre-poned to end by the 4th of June.

Many final semester students had complained about the month-long gap between exams and wished for their exams to get concluded timely without huge gaps due to job opportunities and admission deadlines. Rahul Jhansla, Vice President of DUSU, had submitted a written application to the Dean of Student Welfare regarding the DU examination date sheet for the aforementioned reasons.

According to Rahul Jhansla, the DU administration had kept the initial gap in consideration for the UPSC prelims; however, they later stated that they would speak to the Controller of Examinations to reduce the gap in the later period.

The examination notice released on 4th May further announced that students currently in their 6th semester could opt for exiting in the SLC portal in June or July, instead of choosing to pursue the additional 4th Year added by the NEP 2020.

Students are advised to check their admit cards for the May-June 2026 examination, which is live on the SLC portal. Many students have also reported that their admit cards show ‘EXTCR” on the column ‘paper type’ causing further confusion. However, they have been informed by teachers that it will not be an issue if it continues to show even after the correction.

Even though the final date sheet has now been released, many students have expressed frustration at the constantly changing date sheet since it disrupts plans for studying and travelling back home. It also highlights poor planning and lack of communication on the University’s behalf as many students continue to question whether or not this shall be the final timetable, despite the official notice.

Image Source: Delhi University’s Examination Website

Reva Rawat

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DUB News

DU Admit Cards released; Error shows paper type as “EXTCR”

By DU Beat May 7, 2026

After the release of admit cards following the continued confusion regarding the timetable for the upcoming May-June semester examinations, DU students now experience discrepancies in their admit cards as well.

On Tuesday, 5th May, Delhi University officially started rolling out verified admit cards for the upcoming semester-end examinations in May and June, which can be downloaded from the Samarth portal as usual. However, there is no doubt that the pre-examination air at Delhi University (DU) is always full of chaos, confusion, and more often than not, uncertainty.

Amidst constantly shifting examination dates, the perpetual stress that accompanies upcoming exams, and the Delhi heat beating down upon them, it is a tough time to be a student at DU. Further, many students are even facing issues with the recent rollout of the examination admit cards by the University administration.

Screenshot of a Delhi University admit card section showing “EXTCR” listed under the paper type column. — Students reported confusion after “EXTCR” appeared in place of usual paper categories

According to a post by DU Today, instead of the usual paper types (DSC, GE, AEC, SEC, VAC, etc.), many admit cards have the “EXTCR” category shown in the “Paper Type” column. For some, this is true for every course for which they will be giving the exam, and for others, this is true only partially. Students are unsure what this category truly implies and why the usual categories have been replaced in this manner. Some are concerned whether giving their final examinations will be affected in any manner due to such a change in their admit cards.

It is also highly probable that this occurrence is merely an administrative lapse or technical glitch and will soon be rectified. Students who are facing this discrepancy should consult their respective college administrative offices or faculty to understand the next steps to be taken, if any at all. Such technical glitches have been unfortunately common for quite some time now. Last year, some admit cards had allegedly shown “ER”, creating confusion and panic. Students had also faced other technical discrepancies, such as missing crucial information or unclear details mentioned on the card.

In addition to the above, many students’ admit cards have not yet been verified by their colleges despite there being an official statement stating that “all students can now download their admit cards.” Also, students enrolled in Delhi University’s School of Open Learning (SOL) have reportedly not received their hall tickets yet.

Image Source: Valuable-Drag-8111 on Reddit

Manya Marwah

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Campus Central

Delhi University Pushes One-Year PG Reform as Faculty Dissent Erupts Over Academic Impact and Curtailed Debate

By DU Beat April 22, 2026

Delhi University approves one-year PG courses, SWAYAM credit integration, and global semester exchange, but faculty dissent highlights concerns over academic impact, accessibility, and curtailed deliberative processes within the Academic Council.

The Academic Council of Delhi University approved the introduction of one-year postgraduate programmes in several departments; these courses will be integrated with the Postgraduate Curriculum Framework 2024 following the National Education Policy 2020.

The council also sanctioned guidelines which authorise students to earn up to 5% of their total credits through courses offered on SWAYAM and other MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) platforms. The guidelines generated criticisms:

The decision to proceed in a manner that curtailed debate and foreclosed meaningful engagement with dissenting views reflects a disregard for established democratic norms and collective decision-making,”

the note stated, as cited by PTI.

Monami Sinha, an elected Academic Council member, commented on the proceedings of the council by stating, ‘We were dissenting, and the meeting was abruptly ended.’ We have no clarity on what decision was finally taken.”

Registrar Vikas Gupta further added that the proposal had been passed and would be placed before the Executive Council of Delhi University and stated,

Teachers have dissented against the proposal. However, we are only suggesting introducing 5 per cent of total credits through the courses, and we should encourage students to learn from all types of portals that can contribute to their education.”

The Council also approved a proposal to introduce a ‘Semester Away Programme’ in ties with some foreign higher education institutions that remain undisclosed at the moment. The initiative will allow students to complete one semester abroad with adequate credits according to their respective degrees.

Additionally, the vice-chancellor directed departments to compile a list of the top 20 journals in their respective fields within 30 days.

He stated that departments should establish specific criteria for these journals and assign a point system to them. Based on this evaluation, a priority list of journals is to be prepared by assigning scores accordingly,”

a press statement issued after the meeting said, according to PTI.

Self-learning study material for School of Open Learning courses in line with the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework 2022 was also approved. Additionally, programmes including the Master of Journalism and Mass Communication at the Delhi School of Journalism, MSc Mathematics, and the second-semester curriculum for MA Hindi Journalism were cleared, along with courses in computer science and other subjects.

Image Credits: Devesh by DU Beat

Divyanshi Dusad

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Campus Central

Delhi University Releases Updated Tentative Datesheet; Examinations to Start from 16th May

By DU Beat April 16, 2026

Post multiple concerns raised by students and faculty, Delhi University released an updated tentative datesheet with examinations beginning from the 16th of May till mid-June.

On 16th April 2026, Delhi University released their updated tentative datesheet for the May-June 2026 Examinations with the date for examinations for the even semester starting from the 16th of May as specified initially in the DU Calendar for 2025-26.

This change in the timetable comes after repeated concerns raised by students with respect to the previously updated tentative date sheet shared by the University where examinations were set to begin from the 1st week of June for a majority of Honours courses across semesters. The non-adherence to the initially released DU Calendar for 2025-26, wherein holidays to begin from the 1st of June had been pushed to end of June in lieu of the released examination schedule, became a crucial point of contention amongst students. However, with the newly released tentative datesheet, a majority of students from the Honours course shall be able to avail their semester break from the second week of June itself.

According to the updated tentative datesheet, B.A. (Honours) and B.Sc (Honours) courses for Core Papers are to begin from 16th May for Semester VIII, 19th May for Semester VI, 28th May for Semester II, and 30th May for Semester IV. Ability Enhancement Courses are set to begin from the 11th of June till the 12th of June across Semester II and IV with Skill Enhancement Courses being conducted on 16th May for Semester VI, 26th May for Semester IV and 29th May for Semester II. General Elective papers across all disciplines shall be examined between 26th May to 10th June.

The updated timetable stands tentative and the University of Delhi has requested all discrepancies in the schedule to be sent across to their official email ID by the 21st of April, 5PM.

Image Credits: University of Delhi Website

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Daulat Ram College

Daulat Ram College Associate Professor, Jyoti Mahlawat Passes Away

By DU Beat April 12, 2026

Associate Professor, Jyoti Mahlawat of the Commerce Department of Daulat Ram College, unfortunately passed away on April 7, 2026, reportedly due to cancer.

On Tuesday, 7th April 2026, an Associate Professor, Jyoti Mahlawat of the Commerce Department of the Daulat Ram College passed away. COMNEUR, the Commerce Department of DRC announced her untimely demise through a LinkedIn post stating that

“Today, the Department mourns the heartbreaking loss of one of its youngest and most cherished faculty member Ms. Jyoti Mahlawat. Her untimely passing has left an irreplaceable loss in our academic family. She was not only a dedicated educator but also a kind soul whose warmth, humility, and passion for teaching touched the lives of everyone around her. Her presence brought positivity, her words inspired many, and her commitment to her students will always be remembered. Gone too soon, but never forgotten — her legacy will continue to live on in the hearts of those she guided and nurtured.”

A DRC student has informed DU Beat that her untimely demise was caused due to cancer. She stated,

“Yes, she was my teacher and it was so disheartening to hear about her sudden passing. I was so shocked when I heard about her death. She was such a happy and beautiful soul and it’s really hard to process what happened. She was always smiling and bringing smiles to others and carried so much strength within her. She had cancer yet she never told any of her students until the very end.”

Another student added,

“As our principal said during her prayer meet at the college, she always wished to return as soon as she recovered but life had different plans for her. She had achieved so much at such a young age.”

The Department of Financial Studies, University of Delhi wrote on LinkedIn, “She was a PhD scholar and a kind-hearted soul whose presence brought warmth to our department. During her time with us, she left a lasting impact through her dedication, sincerity, and academic commitment. Her contributions to our department will remain a legacy.”

We express our deepest condolences to Professor Jyoti Mahlawat’s family, her students, fellow faculty members, and loved ones.

Image Credits- Department of Financial Studies, University of Delhi (LinkedIn)

Divyanshi Dusad

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Admission Season

CUET UG 2026 to Begin in May, Announces NTA

By DU Beat April 9, 2026

The NTA has announced that the CUET UG examination will commence in May. Additionally, provisions have been made for students facing mismatches in identity documents.

The Common University Entrance Test for Undergraduate programmes (CUET UG) 2026 exam is scheduled to be conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) from 11 May 2026 to 31 May 2026. Following this exam, admissions to undergraduate programmes at Delhi University are also expected to begin shortly after. CUET–UG 2026 application forms were available between 3 January and 4 February, with a correction window open from 23 February to 26 February.

As in the past four years, the University will carry out the admission process through its Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) portal, which operates in multiple phases, the first one being student registration. Students’ admission largely depends on CUET results. Once the results are declared, students can apply for courses and colleges they prefer and are eligible for, based on subject mapping.

The Dean of Admissions, Haneet Gandhi, stated that the CSAS portal is likely to open around the third week of May, which is also when the CUET examination will take place. While the final details are still being worked out, the University aims to complete admissions promptly this time so that classes can begin at the earliest. Efforts will also be made to shorten the allocation periods, even if it requires adjusting each round by a day or two. Students have also been advised to choose those CUET subjects that they have studied in Class 12, as at least 50 per cent similarity is required for subject mapping, which is an essential part of the admission process.

In recent years, faculty members have raised concerns about delays in the admission process, following DU’s adoption of the CUET-based admission system and its impact on the academic calendar. To address this, the University is already working to make the CSAS portal more user-friendly by adding prompts and guidance to help students avoid mistakes during the application process.

In its latest notice dated 7 April, the NTA has also introduced a special verification window from 7 April to 10 April 2026, for candidates facing issues such as mismatched photographs or identity documents. Candidates facing such discrepancies are required to verify their identity by submitting a signed and attested certificate along with a recent photograph, having it attested by their school/college principal or a Gazetted Officer, and uploading it to the NTA website by 10 April.

The CUET, in its current form, was introduced in March 2022 for the academic year of 2022-23. Implemented by the NTA, it aimed to create a level playing field for admissions across all central universities (not just Delhi University), reducing the high cut-offs and over-reliance on board examination marks. It was a key reform under the NEP 2020, which also allowed students to appear for a single common entrance exam, instead of multiple university-specific exams. CUET is one of India’s largest entrance examinations, with more than 14 lakh applicants this year.

Image Source: Devesh for DU Beat

Nasheta Zaidi

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Campus Central

Gym Equipment at Hansraj Alters Student Experience

By DU Beat April 7, 2026

As fitness infrastructure expands on campus at Hansraj College, questions emerge around what is gained, and what is displaced.

The installation of open-air gym equipment at Hansraj College has reportedly altered the spatial dynamics of key student areas, including the LP (Lovers or Learners Point) and the space in front of Mitti Cafe. The installation process began early last week and was reported to have been completed on Sunday, April 5, 2026.

The setup includes equipment such as seated and standing twisters, sit-and-pull machines, a tai chi spinner, a smith machine, among others. The initiative appears to align with a broader institutional emphasis on student wellness. This follows the recent introduction of a “calorie menu” in the college canteen, suggesting a shift towards structured health-oriented interventions within campus spaces.

However, the installation has reportedly led to increased congestion in both locations. The LP, previously described by students as an open and relatively quiet space, has seen a visible reduction in free area due to the placement of large equipment. The space was reported to be significantly more crowded, with limited room for informal gatherings or movement.

Similarly, the area in front of Mitti Cafe has experienced increased footfall and reduced spatial comfort. Students suggested that the space now feels “suffocating”, indicating a shift from its earlier function as a relatively breathable and multipurpose area.

At the same time, the development has prompted responses on social media, where students have circulated memes reflecting their reactions. One such meme described the college as ‘Hansraj College now accepting admission applications from preschool to grade 6’. When asked about the new infrastructure, a student responded pointing to the apparent redundancy of the decision,

“We already had an open gym, if the objective was student welfare, this money could have been used to make our washrooms more accessible or actually provide resources to the 60+ societies they boast about”

While the initiative is positioned as promoting accessibility to fitness infrastructure, its placement in high-use social spaces has raised concerns.

Image Credits: Aaj Tak Campus

Suansh Dembla

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Around the Campus

Delhi University Celebrates Hanuman Janmotsav Sparking Debates

By DU Beat April 6, 2026

Saffron flags, chants, and a packed Sundar Kand, University of Delhi turned festive this Hanuman Janmotsav, as devotion met debate on what religion looks like in a “secular” campus.

On April 2, students from the Faculty of Law and Faculty of Arts at University of Delhi marked Hanuman Janmotsav with an unprecedented scale of participation and visibility on campus. The occasion witnessed extensive decorations, with saffron flags festooned across both faculties and along the main thoroughfares. Posters lined the stretch from the Faculty of Law to the Faculty of Arts, signaling what many described as the first such large-scale celebration of the festival within the university space.

The central event was held at the Hanuman Mandir near the Faculty of Arts, located just outside the Arts Faculty gate. Students gathered for a collective recitation of the Sundar Kand, a significant section of the Ramcharitmanas, followed by the distribution of prasad among attendees. The atmosphere remained devotional, with a steady turnout of students participating in the rituals and associated activities.

The scale and visibility of the celebration have sparked conversations about the place of religious expression within a public university setting. While for many participants the event represented cultural assertion and community bonding, others view such developments as raising important questions about maintaining the secular ethos traditionally associated with academic institutions like Delhi University.

Image Credits – DU Beat

Madhav Choudhary

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Around the Campus

Bomb Threat in DU’s Miranda House and Ramjas College; Campus Evacuated

By DU Beat April 6, 2026

DU Colleges, Miranda House and Ramjas College were promptly evacuated following an alleged bomb threat shared with the respective college administrations via email earlier on the 6th of April.

Around 12:30 PM on Monday, 6th April, students were hurriedly evacuated from the Miranda House and Ramjas College campus due to an alleged bomb threat received via email on the same day. The email allegedly claimed that a series of 13 bombs filled with toxic gases had been planted on the campus grounds, prompting immediate action and safety concerns from students, faculty, and staff.

Miranda House English Department’s annual literature festival was in full swing when the announcement for evacuation rang out, which was consequently cut short. Vendors and students who had set up stalls for the event, speakers and guests, including author Ria Chopra, and hostel students were asked to vacate the campus on an urgent basis. While the announcement stated that this exercise was a “mock drill” to avoid panic and chaos among the students, according to sources and official reports, there was a real threat email, prompting authorities to respond promptly.

A first-year student from Miranda House’s English department expressed,

For our department, at least, the council was really disappointed, and after it came to light that the authorities knew about it and didn’t inform us earlier, somewhat sabotaged the event.” She added that, on the other hand, being in such a prestigious college, such as Miranda, and believing that you are safe within the campus, yet something as dangerous and real as this happening was a scary experience.”

Another student explained,

We were in the middle of our fest, in fact, the speaker session with Ria Chopra was going on as we received this information [about the bomb threat], and this was being announced through loudspeakers throughout the college. Initially, we were not sure what was happening or if this was accurate information or irrelevant panic. All the stalls had to be packed up, and overall, it was unexpected and unnerving to be in that situation. It was also really problematic for the Lit Fest as well—a lot of losses for a lot of people involved in the event.”

In an interview with Hindustan Times, a student from Ramjas College reported official Whatsapp channels being flooded with images of bomb squads and police dogs across campus. Students who had already reached Vishwavidyalaya Metro Station on their way to Ramjas, informed that they were told to go back home by the authorities.

Following the evacuation, police, bomb squads, and sniffer dogs were deployed on the premises to investigate the validity of the threat. However, according to various news reports, despite an extensive search operation across the entire campus, no suspicious device or activity was discovered, implying that the bomb threat was a hoax. However, this is an ongoing investigation, and efforts are being made to trace the source of the email.

Manya Marwah

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