The University Grants Commission (UGC), a statutory body that provides recognition and funds to several institutes of higher education across India, including the University of Delhi, has recently issued a statement asking varsities to install sanitary napkin incinerators in all women’s hostels. The move aims to benefit both the environment and women’s hygiene.
A communication by the UGC stated, “In an effort to promote proper disposal of menstrual waste and promote the Swachh Bharat Mission, it is imperative that we take the initiative to promote menstrual sanitation and proper disposal of menstrual waste by creating awareness, encouraging every woman to use eco-friendly incinerators and promoting research for biodegradable alternatives.” The communication also added, “You are requested to consider the installation of these machines within the premises of women’s hostels.”
According to the UGC, the estimated cost of the equipment is INR 49,646, an amount that can be “directly booked under the solid waste management component of the Swachh Bharat Mission”. The statutory body also elaborated that HLL Lifecare Limited, which is a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Health, has recently introduced vending machines and incinerators for sanitary napkins.
Proper disposal of menstrual waste is crucial for feminine hygiene as well as for the environment. Sanitary napkins are the go-to product for the majority of Indian women. The material that they are made of is non-biodegradable. This means that the disposal of pads in household trash leads to landfills overflowing with menstrual waste. Burning them is not a solution as it leads to the release of toxic fumes into the atmosphere. Additionally, sanitary napkins that are disposed incorrectly often end up blocking drainage systems. There is also the high risk of disease and unhygienic conditions near areas where menstrual waste is concentrated. Menstrual blood in open air attracts all sorts of bacteria to grow in it and affect the hygiene of the surroundings.
Incinerators are the best way to dispose of sanitary napkins. They provide a long-lasting and eco-friendly solution by restricting the amount of smoke produced in the incineration to the small machine. The communication by the UGC is, therefore, a welcome step in making sure women’s accommodation caters to their specific needs and provides proper hygiene along with fulfilling environmental responsibilities.
In a bizarre and never before witnessed move, the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) has issued a letter which reads: “DUSU hereby authorises Nanu Girls PG to promote their respective PG accommodation within the north campus. They are allowed to distribute pamphlets.” Furthermore, its letterhead bears the logo of the University of Delhi (DU). Meanwhile, Priyanka Chhawri, the office-bearer who issued the letter on behalf of DUSU, defended her stance as a well-intended measure to reach out to outstation students. However, the move seems not to have gone down too well with the University officials.
“No one can do such a thing. How can a university recommend a private accommodation? We will look into the matter,” commented a senior official in the proctor’s office, as reported by The Indian Express. The officials seem to have been unaware of the decision. Meanwhile, Chhawri is adamant in denying the allegations that her personal “stakes” are involved in any way, seeing as the letter promotes Nanu PG specifically. “If other PGs approach me, I will look into it,” she says. She maintains that this is her way of “helping” the hapless parents and students sending her repeated queries, asking her for details regarding “good” and “affordable” paying guest accommodations in the vicinity of north campus. Meanwhile, other DUSU office bearers have denied having any knowledge of the same.
With the admission process already delayed and a row being created over the availability of seats in some colleges, this fiasco comes across as yet another obstruction in the way of the not-so-smooth sailing admission season. For many of the unsure, unfamiliar outstation students, life in DU is still an uncharted territory. It is a race to the finish line involving both parents and students, which does not end merely at getting admission into a college. With few hostel seats available, feasible accommodation remains a major source of worry and hassle for many. In these times, a callous move coming especially from a body of responsibility such as DUSU, comprising of representatives elected by and for the students, reflects poorly on the student organisation’s management of the admission season. If anything, it seems to add to the chaos and has the potential to leave the university officials red-faced.
UPDATE
Delhi University Student Union(DUSU) has come out with an official statement saying that the Union is against the system of private accommodation in the University. It further stated that DUSU is committed to fighting for an increase of University Hostels seats and aims to provide University accommodation to as many students as possible.
The AAP-led Delhi Assembly session, which began on June 28th and has been extended till July 3rd, has unanimously passed a resolution for 85% reservation for city students in government-funded University of Delhi colleges, with all the MLAs committed to bringing this issue to the fore.
The Assembly has also adopted a resolution which seeks to amend the Delhi University Act (1992) which currently allows no other university in Delhi to give affiliation to colleges. Both the resolutions have been passed in light of the struggles endured by the 2 lakh plus students in the city in getting admission in higher education institutions.
Resolution for 85% reservation for Delhi students
On Thursday, the Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia lobbied for the students who had passed Class 12th from the capital and said they should be given a quota in 28 colleges which are fully and partially funded by the Delhi government. “Many of these students are struggling to get admission in higher education institutions. The money of taxpayers from Delhi is being used to fund these colleges. And it is our responsibility to safeguard the interest of Delhi students. We will meet the HRD minister, L-G and DU Vice-Chancellor to raise this demand,” he said, delineating on the drawback suffered by the city students.
In conversation with a popular national daily, advisor to Sisodia, Atishi Marlena, said, “Out of 63 DU colleges, the Delhi government funds 28 colleges, partially or fully. Around 2.5 lakh students pass out from Delhi schools every year and only 28,000 of them are able to secure a seat in DU colleges.”
The colleges which come under funding by the government are as follows:
Image Credits: University of Delhi
Sisodia emphasised on the efforts made to execute the reservation policy, informing that the government had written several letters to the Union HRD Minister which could not materialise, as the University is centrally funded by the University Grants Commission. Both the resolutions have now been passed by the Assembly as a consensual decision, and it has been clarified that the Delhi government does not endorse regionalism through this decision. “If this administration cannot give 85% reservation, it can at least give relaxation of 5-10% in the cut-off marks to Delhi students,” he added.
The decision will tacitly impact thousands of outstation candidates who aspire to enrol in the University every year. “Trying to ghettoise DU is another belligerent move by the Delhi government, which will not only affect the outstation students but the entire education system. DU is a central university, so it is almost impossible that it will ever turn into a reality. Moreover, a university like DU which has been the home of young and intellectual minds from all over the nation for more than 100 years must not select talent on the basis of domicile now. AAP must realise that the ability to accommodate so much diversity is the biggest strength of DU and that makes DU what it is today,” says Mandeep Singh, a second-year student at the University of Delhi. Probing the duality of the issue, the implementation will grant preference to students from the city, thus proving advantageous to them. Siddhi Jain, a third-year student at the University says, “The issue of reservation of local students in a central varsity is a contentious one, especially given how popular the University of Delhi is. As a Delhi student, I feel there should be a certain quota of reservation for domiciles of Delhi, even if it is not as high as 85%. In general, I strongly advocate betterment of universities, state or central, in all regions of India, to (i) prevent so much competition due to flocking of all states’ students to DU, and (ii) give some relief in terms of different moderation policies of different boards.”
“The idea is appealing, but I don’t exactly support it. It is sort of undemocratic because every institution cannot be made exclusive like that. Moreover, DU is a renowned and sought after University. In this case, I feel Ambedkar University can be expanded,” says Sukanya Khar, a Delhi-domicile candidate studying in the varsity.
The response from the educationists has also been majorly sceptical, who have brought the underlining issues to the fore. Saikat Ghosh, a member of the Delhi University Teachers’ Association, believes that the resolution passed would negate the accessibility of the central University. He says, “The suggestion is preposterous. DU is a central University meant to be open to all students of the nation regardless of region or state domicile. The argument that 28 colleges of DU are funded by Delhi residents is also a fallacious half-truth. Not all Delhi tax-payers have Delhi state domicile. Additionally, most of the Delhi government’s revenue is through indirect taxes which non-Delhiites also contribute majorly to. The resolution passed in the Delhi Assembly is a ridiculous gimmick.”
Resolution for amending the Delhi University Act (1992)
The Section 5, Sub-section 2 of the Act has been proposed to be changed. It currently states:
“5. (2) Notwithstanding anything in any other law for the time being in force, no educational institution within the afore-mentioned limits shall be associated in any way with or be admitted to any privileges of any other University incorporated by law in India, and any such privileges granted by any such other University to any educational institution within those limits prior to the commencement of this Act shall be deemed to b withdrawn on the commencement of this Act:
Provided that the Central Government may order in writing, direct that the provisions of this sub-section shall now apply in the case of any institution specified in order.
Provided further that provisions of this sub-section shall not apply in the case of any educational institution affiliated to the Indraprastha Vishwavidyalaya incorporated under the Indraprastha Vishwavidyalaya Act, 1998.”
The House has voted to add a second provision to this Act, which shall read:
“Provided further that provisions of this sub-section shall not apply in the case of any educational institution affiliated to the State Universities in Delhi, which are presently existing or may be set-up in the future.”
By adopting this resolution, the government plans to increase the number of higher education institutions in Delhi in order to meet the requirement of the student populace. The road to this can be paved by amending the Delhi University Act (1992), which will grant more options to those pursuing higher education.
In the past, efforts have been made by Congress and top leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Delhi unit to demand a certain preference for the city students. BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa is a strong advocate of this issue and expressed the urgency to address it. “This is an important issue and all MLAs should demand reservation for city students cutting across their political and ideological differences. The Delhi government can also set up a college which is only for Delhi students,” he said at the Assembly.
Currently this resolution has only been passed in the Delhi legislative assembly and has no explicit legal backing. It needs to be approved by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development and then passed as a law to be legally implemented.
The Academic Council (AC) of the University of Delhi, in its third meeting which began yesterday and culminated today morning, has discussed and deliberated on the proposals which were in the pipeline. It has announced decisions which shed light on three prospective courses which should be introduced in the varsity soon: Journalism, Transnational Studies, and, Cyber Security. These courses have received the approval of the Council in principle; with the nitty-gritties of these proposals being left to be chalked out in clarity later.
Delhi School of Journalism
The Council has decided to drop the self-financing clause which had been previously planned, and agreed to send the proposal to the UGC for approval of government funding. Earlier, the Vice Chancellor also suggested that the course would function on a no-profit no-loss basis. Meanwhile, the Council will also consider other avenues for funding; like resorting to philanthropic organisations for scholarships. In addition to the monetary factor, a three-member committee will also be set up to delve into the practical aspects of the course structure, along with the other intricacies of the proposal. The Council has decided to employ teachers on deputation from other colleges to serve as the faculty of the institute, along with those working in eminent media houses to serve as consultants. AC member Pankaj Garg said that such courses are “necessary and important as they enhance the reputation of a university.” The VC proposed Rs. 30,000 per semester for the five-year integrated course, a decision which was met with resistance. The AC members have decided that the committee will deliberate on the fee structure. It will also provide reservation for SC/ST candidates, and offer scholarships to facilitate admissions from the weaker sections of the society.
The establishment of the school has, however, been met with opposition from some members of the Academics for Action and Development (AAD) and University Teachers’ Forum (UTF). Transnational Studies and Cyber Security
Both these courses have received the nod from the Academic Council. The course for Transnational Studies has been agreed to be developed in layers, with the aim of its establishment as a premier research centre. In the first phase, it will be a virtual platform where scholars and faculty can engage in discussions on a spectrum of research ideas. The University may then approach the UGC to put in money for research and create an exceptional and unique school on established lines. The Cyber Security course is facing debate on securing the UGC funding. A member of the Academic Council says, “You cannot run the specialised courses, like Journalism and Cyber Security, through a self-financing mode.” The Council has decided to approach UGC to obtain funding for the same.
The Delhi School of Journalism, which is scheduled to undertake applicants from this academic cycle, will not become operational from July 20th. It would take some time to untangle the web of decisions which are yet to be made. Meanwhile, the varsity will be releasing the first-cut off list for admission into various merit-based courses tonight. You can check the lists here.
As the clock ticked off the last second of June 23rd, more than 2 lakh undergraduate aspirants in this country collectively typed in the magic letters to open the first phase of the offline admissions process. After policy alterations, timeline postponement, and logistical glitches, the University of Delhi has finally released the first cut-off list for its undergraduate merit-based programmes.
The cut-offs for Arts and Commerce courses can be checked here.
The cut-offs for Science courses can be checked here.
Contrary to the cut-off trends which have been haunting students and teachers alike for the past few years, the scores have seen a marginal dip this academic season. The highest cut-off has been released by Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College at 99.66% for B.Sc. (Hons.) Electronics, 99% for B.A. (Hons.) Political Science, 98.75% for B.A. (Hons.) English, and 98% for B.Com (Hons.). Shivaji College has set the bar for B.A. (Hons.) Economics with a requirement of 98%.
Various colleges began releasing their individual lists in the late hours of the evening today; including Hansraj College, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Kirori Mal College, amongst other popular choices. The cut-off for SRCC, a premier institute which is targeted by the majority of candidates, saw a slight drop in the percentage requirement, set at 97.75% for B.A. (Hons.) Economics and B.Com (Hons.).
St. Stephen’s College and Jesus and Mary College, while following the same schedule as that of the University’s, have a slightly different process. The lists will be available on their respective websites and can be accessed there.
Documents to be carried tomorrow
The applicants shall be required to produce the following documents in original with two sets of self-attested photocopies at the time of admission:
University admissions form
College-specific form
Anti-ragging form (signed by the candidate and parent)
Class X Board Examination Certificate
Class X Mark-Sheet
Class XII Mark-Sheet
Class XII Provisional Certificate / Original Certificate
Recent Character Certificate
SC/ST/PwD/CW/KM Certificate (in the name of the Applicant) issued by the competent authority
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) Certificate (in the name of the Applicant) as in central list
Transfer Certificate from school/college as well as Migration Certificate from Board / University are required from those students who have passed senior secondary exam from outside Delhi
At least two passport size self-attested photographs.
For students who are eligible for admission through the first cut-off list, here is a run-down of the important points to keep in mind:
The dates for admission will be 24th, 27th, and 28th June, since Sunday and Monday are holidays. The timings are 9:30 am to 1:30 pm for morning colleges and 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm for evening colleges.
Ensure that you have confirmed the requisites for the Best of Four calculation before you proceed.
You are required to log in to your undergraduate admissions portal. The screen should show an option to select the course and college you are eligible for. By clicking this, an automatic form should be generated. Take two copies of this college-specific form/acknowledgment slip, it is the primary document of use tomorrow.
The primary purpose of tomorrow is to get your documents verified. There will be long, multiple lines. Be prepared for two/three rounds of authentication and running around from one place to another.
Once verified, you will be required to make the fee payment till the forenoon of the next day. Once you return from the document verification process, your admission portal should reflect an approved status from the college authorities, and should then show the option of payment of fees. The transaction can be made through college-specific gateways. Remember to take a printout of the fee receipt for future purpose!
The admission days are going to be a long and exhausting. Remember to carry the following essentials with you: water bottle, refreshments, stationery (pen, stapler, glue stick), umbrella, and anything else you feel might be necessary. Reach on time to the college; the crowd will be overwhelming.
Don’t fret. We understand that your mind might be troubled with questions about what to do once you reach the venue and any other admissions requirement. You can find volunteers and help desks at the college who are there to solve your queries. Also, look out for us; we’ll be there to cheer you on with pieces of important information!
For more details on the aftermath of the announcement of the lists, you can read our full report here.
Every year, the University of Delhi offers two branches of admissions to undergraduate aspirants. The merit-based courses are administered through the release of cut-offs, while the entrance-based courses undertake candidates through an entrance test and the conduction of a GD-PI process in some courses. This year, the entrance-based registrations were scheduled to commence from May 31st. However, after a delay of 15 days, the registration portal will become operational from June 16th, at 6:00 p.m.
The courses administered through entrance examinations are as follows:
B.A. (Hons.) Business Economics
Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS)
Bachelor of Business Administration (Financial Investment Analysis) (BBA (FIA))
B.A. (Hons.) Humanities and Social Sciences
B.Tech. (Information Technology and Mathematical Innovation)
Bachelor of Elementary Education (B.El.Ed.)
B.Sc. Physical Education, Health Education, and Sports (B.Sc. (P.E.H.E.&S.))
B.A. (Hons.) Multimedia and Mass Communication
B.A. (Hons.) Music
The entrance tests will be conducted in 18 cities and will be online computer-based. The entrance test for B.A. (Hons.) Music will be based on a practical admission entrance test, which will be held in the Department of Music, Faculty of Music & Fine Arts, University of Delhi.
The merit-based undergraduate admissions portal became functional on May 22nd, with the registration ending on June 13th, 2017. The cut-off lists are scheduled to be announced starting from June 24th.
You can access the link to the entrance-based admissions portal here.
With the first phase of the University of Delhi’s undergraduate admissions for merit-based courses on the verge of culmination, aspirants are racing to finish the online formalities to become eligible for admission in the varsity. However, the University has decided to extend the last date for undergraduate registration to June 13th, 2017, till 5 pm.
The registrations commenced on May 22nd, with various technical glitches and operational delays being experienced over the period of these twenty days. The admissions process, which was completely online, allowed candidates to fill out their personal and academic details on the portal. They could select the courses, choose the ECA and sports quota categories, and upload the necessary documents online as a part of the registration process.
The admissions cycle also witnessed an obstacle due to the slight delay in the announcement of Class XII Board examinations result by the Central Board of Secondary Education, which were released on May 28th, 2017.
The varsity currently offers 60 undergraduate programmes, with more than 56,000 seats for candidates. The undergraduate admissions process for entrance-based courses was scheduled to begin on May 31st. However, the date has been postponed and the final timeline is yet to be announced.
Keeping in mind the functional and logistical delays, the University has announced that the undergraduate merit-based admissions cycle will end on June 13th, offering a one-day extension to candidates to fill up the online forms.
The undergraduate admissions portal can be accessed here.
After having delayed the start of the admissions process for postgraduate candidates more than twice, the University of Delhi is finally ready to open its registration for the same. The University offers a whopping number of 72 courses at the postgraduate level, the details of which can be found at the online portal. All candidates wishing to apply for a Masters, M.Phil, or Ph.D. degree must first register at http://admission.du.ac.in/pg2017.
Unlike the undergraduate admissions portal, the postgraduate one requires all candidates to fill out separate forms for each course they apply to, thereby also paying multiple fees for multiple courses. However, the same login details will be used for all the registration forms. Candidates applying under the SC, ST, and PwD categories must pay a non-refundable fee of INR 250 for each course, while students under all other categories are required to pay INR 500.
Apart from faculties offering interdisciplinary and professional courses, all departments have two modes of admission – merit and entrance. Students from the University of Delhi who have performed well at the undergraduate level will take up 50% of the seats. This mode of direct admission is not available to students of other universities. The other 50% of seats will be filled through entrance tests and interviews or group discussions.
The entrance exams will take place in six cities across the nation – Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Kolkata, Nagpur, and Varanasi. The applicant must choose one of these on the registration form, after which no changes will be made. The admit card will be made available on the online portal itself.
The reservation of seats is as per the national policy for SCs, STs, and non creamy layer OBCs. There is a reservation of 5% each for students belonging to the PwD, CW, sports, and foreign national categories.
Candidates applying to the Non-Collegiate Women’s Educational Board (NCWEB) or the School of Open Learning (SOL) can opt for the same through the common registration portal. However, the remaining procedure will be carried out by the NCWEB and SOL. Candidates applying under the sports quota must appear in the entrance test for the relevant department.
Students wishing to apply for hostel accommodation should check the individual guidelines for each residence.
Here is a run-down of the postgraduate admissions procedure:
Register on the PG admission portal and update personal details.
If applying under the merit category, your application will only be considered if your qualifying examination results are uploaded on the portal.If applying under the entrance category, your application will be considered even if your qualifying examination results are still awaited.
The departments will declare the First Admission List, for both the merit and entrance categories, on 16 July. The allotment of seats is based on the rank of the applicant and the availability of seats in the department. The name in the admission list alone does not guarantee a seat. The admission shall be considered complete only when all the documents have been verified and the fee has been paid.
Once you are selected, download the Admission Form and take a printout of the same. It will have the name of the Reporting Centre and the Place of Admission on it.
If you are present at the Reporting Centre on the allotted day with your Admission Form and your original documents, including your qualifying examination marksheet, your Admission Form will be marked as Verified. You shall then proceed to the Place of Admission (the college/department/faculty) and submit your original documents. The Place of Admission will then mark your application Approved on the online portal. Finally, you are required to make the fee payment online within the prescribed time limit.If you are present at the Reporting Centre on the allotted day with your Admission Form and your original documents, but without your qualifying examination marksheet, your Admission Form will be marked as Reported. You shall then proceed to the Place of Admission (the college/department/faculty) and submit your original documents. The Place of Admission will then mark your application Reported on the online portal. You will be allowed to submit your remaining documents within 20 days from the announcement of the Admission List. Once you do so and your online application status is changed to Approved, you must pay the fee within the prescribed time limit to gain admission.If you do not report at the prescribed time to the Reporting Centre, you will not be considered in the subsequent lists for admission regardless of whether you meet all other eligibility criteria.
The documents will remain with the Place of Admission throughout the admissions process. They will be returned if you wish to withdraw or cancel your admission, or appear for counselling at another institute. If you have been given the 20-day window to submit your remaining documents and fail to do so, your other documents will be returned to you.
If candidates score the same marks in the entrance exam, those with the higher qualifying examination marks will be allotted the seat first.
Here is a list of all the important dates to keep in mind in the upcoming weeks:
June 12 – Online registration starts
June 22 – Online registration ends
July 1-6 – Entrance examinations conducted
July 7-12 – Results announced, grievances handled
July 12-14 – Group discussions and interviews held, if any
July 16 – First admission list released
By July 18 – Deposit online fee
July 20 – Classes commence
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If the multi-spheres of pollution are humanity’s most significant survival battle today, then the planting of trees is claimed to be the biggest contributor in cleaning the air which serves as the life valve of every species. Daily reports allude to the deteriorating air, aquatic, and land quality owing to a multitude of reasons. Luckily, this World Environment Day, new research about countering air pollution has been discovered.
A team of researchers from the University of Delhi has identified five trees which might be instrumental in tackling the plight of the degraded quality of air. Plants are known to act as air purifiers by sucking up and trapping harmful gases and particulate matter. The team comprises of 16 members – three assistant professors and 13 students – who collected data on air pollution and the dominant tree colonies from five areas – Mandir Marg, Civil Lines, Anand Vihar, RK Puram, and Punjabi Bagh – over a period of a year from September 2015 to September 2016.
According to their research, certain trees with inherent qualities contribute in cleaning the city’s air more than others. Dr. Vijay Thakur, Assistant Professor of Botany at Shivaji College, comments, “But not all plants have the same ability to bring down pollution and clean the air. Our research shows that there are some trees such as peepal, saptaparni, and jamun which help to clean the city’s air more than others.”
“We compared the levels of five pollutants — PM2.5, PM10, NOx, SOx, and ozone — in these areas as measured by the monitoring stations and then studied the dominant tree colonies,” he added, when speaking to a popular national daily. The parameters considered for the study included the tree’s height, canopy size, leaf size, shape and orientation of leaves, leaf characteristics, dust accumulation, and other factors that were studied in the laboratories.
The results found that areas such as Mandir Marg and RK Puram have lower pollution levels as compared to Anand Vihar and Civil Lines, which are highly polluted areas. These findings conformed to their hypothesis wherein areas which were dominated by trees such as peepal, jamun, devdar, champa, and saptaparni registered lower levels of pollution. Civil Lines, which has trees such as Vilayti Kikar, on the other hand, observed high pollution levels.
“We found that these five trees were able to trap more pollutants, including PM2.5 and PM10, than others. Their leaf structures were such that they helped to trap more dust and other pollutants,” said Dr. Kumar.
Concretisation, infrastructural toll, falling groundwater, termites, bugs, and ageing continue to be the biggest threats to the health of trees occupying the Delhi region. According to statistics, 15,000 trees were felled in Delhi in the last three years for development projects, and there is currently 299.77 sq. kms. of green cover in the national capital.
The project, in addition to testing the ability of a tree to absorb pollution, also studied the presence of birds as bio-indicators of a healthy tree. “It was found that some trees, such as the peepal, not just helped to bring down pollution levels but also supported a wide range of bird species. The grey hornbill and brown-headed barbet were found in large numbers in areas which were dominated by trees such as peepal,” said Dr. Virat Jolli, Assistant Professor of Zoology at Shivaji College.
The project titled “Amelioration of Air Quality in Urban Ecosystem of Delhi – Role of Avenue Trees” was mentored by the ecologist and emeritus professor of Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems, CR Babu. Funded by the University of Delhi, the findings will soon be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Within alternate modes of education, the University of Delhi offers ten different courses from the School of Open Learning for graduation and post-graduation. SOL will start the online admissions procedure for five undergraduate courses from 1st June for the session 2017-18. Admissions open from July for undergraduate courses and from August for postgraduate courses. The undergraduate degrees include B.A. (Prog.), B.A. Political Science (Hons.), B.A. English (Hons.), B.Com (Hons.), and B.Com (Prog.). Students are required to make an application for admission to the courses offered by the School in the prescribed Enrolment-Cum-Admission form. The application form will be available on its website along with the prospectus. While the last date for application is July 31st, students can apply after paying a penalty fee of Rs. 100 till August 31st and Rs. 200 till September 15th.
The fees at SOL for students residing in India is lower than other colleges in the varsity offering regular courses. The minimal payment structure ensures that students from all financial backgrounds get a chance to pursue higher studies in the course of their choice. The annual fees for general category students enrolling for B.A. (Prog.) is Rs. 3430, Rs. 3530 for B.A. (Hons.) English and B.Com (Prog.), Rs. 3630 for B.A. (Hons.) Political Science, and Rs. 3830 for B.Com (Hons.). The fees are lower for reserved categories. H.C. Pokhriyal, Executive Director of SOL, said approximately 1.4 lakh students had enrolled in the five undergraduate courses last year.
The institute offers video lectures and access to the library, both online and offline. Most of the study materials can be accessed on its website. SOL does not have a cut-off list like regular colleges and the eligibility criterion for students is lower. The highest eligibility criterion in 2016 was for B.A. (Hons.) English at 65% aggregate, with at least 75% in English Core or 65% in English Elective or Functional English. The eligibility for the rest of the courses was 60% or below. The new prospectus will carry all the details regarding eligibility and guidelines for the admission process.
Eligibility Criteria for University of Delhi Correspondence Courses 2017
1) B.A. (Prog.) & B.Com (Prog.)
Minimum Eligibility Criteria: Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (Class XII) of the Central Board of Secondary Education, or an examination recognised as equivalent thereto, or Pre-University Examination of an Indian university recognised by the University of Delhi, or Intermediate Examination of an Indian university board, or an examination recognised as equivalent thereto.
Specific Requirements: Passed with 40% or above in any of the examinations.
2) B.A. (Hons.) English
Minimum Eligibility Criteria: At least 60% marks in aggregate in the Senior School Certificate Examination, conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi, or an examination recognised as equivalent to the above.
Specific Requirements: Candidates securing 70% marks in the English Core Language in Class XII and 60% in aggregate will be eligible for direct admission, or candidates securing 60% marks in English Elective and 60% in aggregate will be eligible for direct admission.
3) B.A (Hons.) Political Science
Minimum Eligibility Criteria: At least 45% in the aggregate with Political Science in any of the examinations recognised by the University of Delhi.
Specific Requirements: Candidates securing 60% marks in the aggregate without Political Science in Class XII will be eligible for direct admission in Political Science (Honours) first year.
Candidates securing 45% in aggregate with Political Science as one of their subjects will be eligible for direct admission.
4) B.Com (Hons.)
Minimum Eligibility Criteria: 55% Aggregate, or 60% Aggregate of the vocational/technical stream with commerce.
Specific Requirements: The number of seats in Business Data Processing (Subsidiary) for B.Com (Hons.) is limited and admission will be on the basis of merit.
5) B.Com (Hons.) Optional Computer – Paper VI C
Practical Paper VI C: Option will be given on the basis of merit. This paper may or may not be allowed without practical.
Note:
SC/ST – Minimum passing marks in any one of the qualifying examinations
OBC – 10% of minimum eligibility marks prescribed for the general category students
PwD – 5% relaxation in minimum eligibility marks prescribed for the general category students
Feature Image Credits: School of Open Learning, University of Delhi
