In a significant change to its admissions process, Delhi University has now decided to implement a twice-a-year admission system for selected courses starting from the next academic session.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced a significant decision starting from the academic year 2024–25, wherein colleges and universities in India will be able to offer admissions twice a year. This change will allow institutions to run two academic sessions annually instead of one, enabling them to admit students biannually, according to the commission’s chairperson, M. Jagadesh Kumar, on Tuesday.

Currently, universities and colleges admit students annually, typically in July-August, for the regular mode. However, following the UGC decision announced on Tuesday, institutions will now have the option to admit students twice a year: once in January-February and in July-August.

Delhi University has decided to introduce a twice-a-year admission system starting from the next academic session, beginning with a pilot project for selected courses, Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh informed PTI. Singh commented,

This is a positive initiative by the UGC for the benefit of students. However, achieving full implementation will take time due to the need for additional infrastructure to accommodate the increased number of students.

This decision, as per Jagadesh Kumar, aims to enhance flexibility for both institutions and students, addressing diverse academic and logistical requirements. Additionally, introducing dual admission cycles offers students who miss the traditional intake period another chance to enroll promptly, avoiding a year-long wait.

The UGC’s decision grants institutions autonomy to choose between adopting both admission cycles or sticking to just one. However, concerns have been raised regarding issues such as infrastructure readiness, faculty availability, flexibility in implementation, and the need for clearer guidelines.

“Do I need to take CUET again?”

Anika, a 19-year-old aspiring to pursue a B.A. (Hons.) in English at Delhi University this year, voices her concern over the ambiguous guidelines regarding biannual admissions:

There are no clear guidelines on whether the CUET will be conducted twice a year or not. There is currently no guidance on the admission process for the January cycle.

“DU Cannot Accommodate.”

Shambhavi, a 20-year-old student at Delhi University, voices apprehensions regarding the university’s infrastructure readiness to handle two batches per year. She points out:

Every day, there are concerns about the accessibility of DU hostels to a larger number of students, particularly since some colleges lack hostels altogether. Given the current limitations in facilities at DU, including classrooms and hostels that can barely accommodate a handful of students, it is evident that the university is ill-prepared for two intake cycles.”

Teachers have also voiced their concerns, describing the announcement as “confusing” and noting it was made without engaging in “conversation” with stakeholders.

“Concerns Over System Alignment and Feasibility”

As per the reports, Debraj Mookerjee, associate professor of English at Delhi University’s Ramjas College, said,

These changes have to emerge out of a conversation; they can’t just come out because you want to be part of the American system. Forget feasibility; the university is already hamstrung by two exams; the NEP has seven exams. I don’t know what he is trying to say. In India, there is a calendar. How does one switch from that? The American system is compartmentalized; there is no concept of first year, second year, or third year, unlike here.”

“Admission and Teaching Delays, Again.”

As per the reports, Moushumi Basu, President of the JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA), expressed concerns over the impact of delayed entrance examinations conducted by the NTA on the academic calendars of universities like JNU. She remarked,

The university struggles to manage the process once—how can they contemplate doing it twice? The UGC, in proposing such recommendations, appears to have insufficiently considered the practical challenges at ground level.”

Utkarsh, a third-year undergraduate student at Moti Lal Nehru College, raises concerns about the potential impact on teaching quality if admissions are conducted twice a year.

DU already takes a long time to wrap up everything, which greatly affects syllabus completion and teaching. There are occasions when we struggle to cover the entire syllabus. We are uncertain how they plan to streamline this process.”

“Amity’s VC flags alignment and infrastructural concerns.”

According to Hindustan Times reports, Balvinder Shukla, Vice Chancellor of Amity University, welcomed the initiative but voiced concerns about whether Indian institutions have sufficient infrastructure to support two admission cycles.

There are a lot of things to consider before jumping into a decision. Moreover, school academic sessions and the beginning of college admissions are aligned in a certain way. There is a possibility that applications during the January cycle will be very low,”

– Shukla said.

“I might get another chance.”

While some students raise concerns, others support the decision and welcome it. Aditi, a 19-year-old student, expresses her viewpoint:

I feel more secure knowing that if someone doesn’t do well in round 1, they’ll have another chance to try.”

Last year, the UGC permitted bi-annual admissions for students in open and distance learning, as well as online modes. The UGC chairman highlighted that this decision benefited nearly half a million students by enabling them to start their degree programs without waiting for a full academic year. This success prompted the decision to extend bi-annual admissions to regular modes as well.

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Featured Image Credits: Devesh Arya for DU Beat

Dhairya Chhabra

dhairyachhabra14@gmail.com