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Inside Kamala Nehru College, Delhi University: Courses, Infrastructure, Fees, Student Life & Placements | DU Beat

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Explore Kamala Nehru College (KNC), Delhi University—one of the top women’s colleges for Arts, Commerce & Humanities. Discover updated courses, fees, campus facilities, student life, scholarships, and placements at KNC, Delhi University. 

Established on 20th July 1964, Kamala Nehru College (KNC) is one of the most prestigious women’s colleges under the University of Delhi. Initially founded as the Government College for Women in Defence Colony, the institution began by offering Humanities courses under its founding principal, Dr. K.K. Gorowara.

Over time, the college expanded to include Commerce and Postgraduate programs, reflecting its commitment to academic excellence and inclusivity. The college underwent several renamings becoming Modern College for Women before it was finally christened Kamala Nehru College in 1972. The foundation stone of its current campus at Hauz Khas (August Kranti Marg) was laid by President V.V. Giri, and in 1974, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi inaugurated the new building, planting the roots of what has become a thriving academic institution.

Kamala Nehru College Infrastructure & Campus Facilities

Situated in the heart of South Delhi near Siri Fort, Kamala Nehru College (Delhi University) boasts a modern and eco-friendly campus that provides a balance of academic and recreational spaces. The campus is easily accessible through Green Park and Moolchand metro stations, ensuring connectivity for students across the city.

KNC offers state-of-the-art classrooms equipped with audio-visual aids and ICT-enabled learning tools. The seminar halls and auditoriums are air-conditioned and designed to host academic events, workshops, and cultural programs. The college library is well-stocked with thousands of books, research journals, and e-resources accessible through the Delhi University Library System (DULS), promoting academic and research excellence among students.

The campus also features a computer lab with updated software, Wi-Fi-enabled study zones, and dedicated spaces for innovation and research. For students’ convenience, the campus houses a cafeteria offering healthy meals, a stationery and photocopy shop, and an on-campus bank branch with ATM facilities.

Health and safety are prioritized at Kamala Nehru College, which maintains a medical room with a full-time nurse and visiting doctor. The Counselling Cell offers mental health support, reflecting KNC’s commitment to student well-being and holistic growth.

KNC’s lush gardens, green lawns, and eco-friendly initiatives, led by the Environment Club, have earned the college several recognitions for sustainability. Sports and physical fitness are equally emphasized, with facilities for athletics, basketball, yoga, and aerobics, along with participation in University-level sports events.

Courses Offered at Kamala Nehru College (KNC), Delhi University

Kamala Nehru College offers a diverse range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in Arts, Commerce, and Humanities.

Undergraduate courses include B.A. (Hons) in English, Economics, Geography, Hindi, History, Journalism, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology, as well as B.Com (Hons) and B.A. Programme with a variety of combinations such as Economics + Political Science, History + Sociology, and Psychology + Philosophy.

Postgraduate programs at KNC include M.A. in English, Hindi, History, and Political Science.

The fee structure for undergraduate courses generally ranges between ₹20,000 and ₹30,000 per year, making it one of the more affordable Delhi University colleges offering quality education. Fee concessions and scholarships are also available for economically disadvantaged and PwBD students.

Scholarships and Financial Assistance at Kamala Nehru College

Kamala Nehru College provides several scholarships and fee concessions to promote financial inclusivity and academic excellence among its students.

Recent opportunities include the PM Vidyalakshmi Scholarship (2025), KARM Fellowship (2024–2027), and EdCIL Vidyanjali Foundation programs. The college also supports initiatives like the Scholarships for Students with Disabilities, ensuring equitable access to education.

Most scholarships are merit-cum-need-based, with additional assistance for students from economically weaker sections. The college’s Scholarship Cell also coordinates with Delhi University’s central schemes and government-funded fellowships to ensure that students receive continuous support throughout their academic journey.

Extracurricular Activities & Student Life at Kamala Nehru College

Life at Kamala Nehru College is vibrant and engaging, reflecting the spirit of the Delhi University student community. The college encourages students to pursue interests beyond academics through its numerous societies and clubs.

KNC hosts a wide range of cultural and academic societies including the Dramatics Society, Debating Society, Music and Dance societies, and departmental associations that organize fests, competitions, and talks. The Women’s Development Cell (WDC), NSS, and Enactus KNC actively work on social welfare projects focusing on sustainability, gender equality, and community engagement.

The annual cultural festival, Ullas, is one of the most awaited events in Delhi University’s fest calendar, drawing participation from colleges across DU for music, dance, theatre, and literary competitions.

Through these societies, events, and student initiatives, Kamala Nehru College fosters leadership, creativity, and collaboration, offering a holistic experience that extends beyond the classroom.

Admissions at Kamala Nehru College (Delhi University)

Admission to Kamala Nehru College undergraduate programs is based on the Common University Entrance Test (CUET-UG), conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), followed by seat allocation through Delhi University’s Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS).

Eligibility requires successful completion of Class XII (or equivalent) from a recognized board. Students are advised to align their CUET subjects with their intended course choices. Admission is merit-based and transparent, with no age restrictions or disqualification for gap years.

For postgraduate courses, admissions are conducted through CUET-PG, followed by CSAS-PG counseling on the DU admission portal. Admission is confirmed after document verification and online payment of fees.

Recognition & Rankings

Kamala Nehru College (KNC) is consistently ranked among the best women’s colleges under Delhi University.

  • NAAC Accreditation: A Grade
  • India Today Rankings 2024: Among Top 10 DU Colleges for Arts & Humanities
  • NIRF Ranking 2024: Featured among Top 100 Colleges in India
  • Recognized by UGC and Ministry of Education for excellence in teaching and women’s empowerment initiatives

Notable Alumni of Kamala Nehru College

Kamala Nehru College boasts a distinguished list of alumni who have made significant contributions across journalism, public service, and international affairs. Notable alumnae include Anubha Bhonsle, Executive News Editor at CNN-News18; Natasha Jog, journalist at NDTV; Molly Gambhir, Anchor and Correspondent at World is One News; and Mereseni, Information Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Fiji.

Internships & Placements at Kamala Nehru College

The Placement Cell of Kamala Nehru College (Delhi University) is dedicated to offering students professional exposure, internships, and full-time recruitment opportunities throughout their academic journey. The Cell maintains strong industry relations, organizes on-campus placement drives, and provides soft-skill training to enhance employability.

Regular workshops, interview preparation sessions, and career guidance programs are conducted to prepare students for the professional world. Education consultants are also invited to discuss higher education opportunities in India and abroad.

Top recruiters at Kamala Nehru College include Ernst & Young, Google, IACT Global, Protiviti, Oberoi Group of Hotels, Zomato, Rio Tinto, and IBN7, offering diverse opportunities across sectors such as consulting, finance, IT, hospitality, and media.

Image Credits: Anshika for DU Beat

Neeraja Unnikrishnan

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Campus Central

Final Year of College & Still No College ID Cards

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Third-year Journalism students at Kamala Nehru College continue to face administrative delays, remaining without their college ID cards since admission.

In a surprising case of administrative neglect, the entire batch of third-year Journalism students at Delhi University’s Kamala Nehru College (KNC) continues to remain without college ID cards, more than two-and-a-half years after their admission. While their juniors in the same department have already received their cards, around 45–50 students from the 2022 Journalism batch are still waiting.

As per the usual college process, students receive their ID cards within the first semester of their first year of study. However, this batch claimed to have never received any, despite repeatedly approaching the administration. “We have gone to the admin office at least a hundred times”, said a third-year student. “Every time, we are told it’s some system or data issue. The excuse has remained the same for three years.”

According to the students, the administration initially cited a “technical issue” with student records, saying that names and roll numbers had been mismatched in the database. “We were told that because of wrong information flow, like father’s name or roll number mix-ups, the cards couldn’t be printed”, one student said. “But that was in the first year. It’s third year now, and nothing has changed.”

Students allege that this delay has caused multiple inconveniences. During events such as the Diwali Mela and college fests, campus entry is restricted to those carrying valid ID cards. “We weren’t allowed entry even with our library cards”, said the student. 

When the matter was raised in a student-principal meeting a few months ago, the principal reportedly downplayed the issue, saying that everyone had received their ID cards and that students could get them printed from the college machine. However, the administration did not act even after that.


Students claim that, despite the principal’s attempts to communicate with the administrative office, no concrete action has been taken. They continue to be informed about system issues or mismatched details with no proper follow-up.

Journalism department students have begun documenting their complaints collectively, hoping that the administration will finally address the issue before they graduate.  Currently, there is no clear timeline for when or whether the college administration will resolve the ID card delay, leaving nearly an entire graduating batch without a basic document of identification from their own institution.

Read Also: Protesters Detained at Kartavya Path as Delhi’s Air Pollution Crisis Deepens

Image Credit: Anshika for DU Beat

Anjali Kumari Jha

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Campus Central

The Sky is Falling – State of Infrastructure at Kamala Nehru College

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A recent incident at KNC where a chunk of plaster fell from the ceiling, nearly injuring a student standing nearby has raised greater questions about the college’s infrastructure and the administration’s attitude towards such issues. 

Recently, Navya Pathania, a second-year Psychology student of Kamala Nehru College (KNC) witnessed a part of the ceiling, on the ground floor of the college, collapse just a few feet away from her. The student claimed that this incident took place in the early hours of the morning when the college was mostly empty. However, upon approaching one of the caretakers nearby, she was told that they’d simply sweep up the fallen plaster. 

He said to me at that moment, ‘Haan beta, jhaadu laga denge’, I wonder what would have happened if it fell on top of me – Navya Pathania

The victim was shaken by the incident and the seeming callousness of the adults around her.  As recounted, she went to the administrative office afterwards to make them aware of the incident. But after having to wait for twenty minutes, she was disappointed at their inaction. 

It felt like an earthquake, I was really scared and couldn’t process what had just happened.

The tales of Kamala Nehru’s poor infrastructure don’t just begin with this, as the college continues to face extreme shortages regarding classrooms, benches, chairs, etc.

A student from first-year Economic Honors raised similar concerns. Having a class size of around 80 students, most classrooms in the college aren’t able to properly fit the entire batch of students. This corroborates with previously covered accounts of students having to spend a large period of class time looking for empty classrooms or enough chairs, having to study on the grounds or open areas during the harsh Delhi summers, giving internal assessments while sitting on the floor or sharing a chair, etc. 

Sometimes, a few of us have to sit outside the classroom while attending. It becomes difficult to study as we can’t hear the teacher. – a first-year Economics Honours student at KNC

However, this incident points to not only poor infrastructure but also a larger disregard for student well-being. This can also be seen from recent videos circulating on social media of the flooding of the entrance of the college during heavy rains which led students to have to swing across whilst clutching to the gate. 

While Kamala Nehru does have one of the lowest fees for most courses across all of Delhi University’s institutions which may help understand why such issues are being faced, the aforementioned incident and the treatment of the student subsequently highlight not just infrastructural shortcomings, but also a certain degree of apathy surrounding the student welfare.

 

Featured image source – Navya Pathania 

Read also:  DU and its Pervading Issue of Inadequate Infrastructure 

 

Chaharika Uppal

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Admissions

DU Releases Third Cut-off List; Percentage Predicted to See a Marginal Decline

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With less than 20,000 seats left to be filled in the University of Delhi (DU), the principals of colleges affiliated to the varsity said that the cut-offs for admission to courses will see a marginal decline in the third list, on July 7, 2019. According to the data shared by DU, 43,854 admissions have taken place after 778 withdrawals since the beginning of the process. The number of cancellations since the second cut-off stands at 3,082, as reported by India Today.

Check here for live college cut-off updates.

Click here to check the third cut-off list for Gargi College.

Click here to check the third cut-off list for Shaheed Bhagat Singh College.

Click here to check the third cut-off list for Satyawati College.

Click here to check the third cut-off list for Shri Ram College of Commerce.

Click here to check the third cut-off list for Vivekananda College.

Click here to check the third cut-off list for Shivaji College.

Click here to check the third cut-off list for Kirorimal College.

Click here to check the third cut-off list for Maharaja Agrasen College.

Click here to check the third cut-off list for Aditi Mahavidyalaya.

Click here to check the third cut-off list for Zakir Husain Delhi College.

Click here to check the third cut-off list for Ramjas College.

Click here to check the third cut-off list for Jesus and Mary College..

Click here to check the third cut-off list for Janki Devi Memorial College.

Click here to check the third cut-off list for Shaheed Rajguru College of Applied Sciences for Women.

Click here to check the third cut-off list for Mata Sundri College.

Click here to check the third cut-off list for Miranda House.

Click here to check the third cut-off list for Keshav Mahavidyalaya.

Click here to check the third cut-off list for P.G.D.A.V. College.

Click here to check the third cut-off list for Lady Shri Ram College.

Click here to check the third cut-off list for Hansraj College.

Click here to check the third cut-off list for Shyam Lal College.

 

Click below to access the comprehensive third cut-off lists:

Arts and Commerce

Science

B.A. Programme 

Feature Image Credits: Akarsh Mathur for DU Beat

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Campus Central

KNC Conducts Divinity Trials: 38 Applicants Turn Up Out Of 178

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Kamala Nehru College conducted trials for Divinity, which was introduced as a separate category in 2017, on14th and 15th June.

The Delhi University has received 17,586 ECA applications this year. The preliminary trials commenced on June 14 for 7 out of the 12 ECA categories. Kamala Nehru College conducted the preliminary trials for Divinity on June 14 and 15 which was introduced in 2017 as a separate ECA category before which it was included as a subcategory to vocals.

According to the University guidelines, the candidates have to be prepared in the elemental aspects of Sikhism as well as the cultural aspects. Harminder Kaur, former Vice Principal of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, and Harpreet Kaur, a doctorate in fine arts from Miranda House College judged the trials.

“The candidates are being assessed on the basis of their caliber, creativity, and intellectual capability. After their performance, they are asked questions on their technical knowledge of music and their knowledge of Sikhism,” said Mamta Tyagi, coordinator of the trials at Kamala Nehru College.

Namneet Kaur, who aspires to study B.Com. Programme at Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce, recited the Shabad ‘Ab More Jiwan Padvi Par’. She said, “The trials went very well. I was able to answer all their questions.” Simarpreet Kaur, an aspirant of Economics Honours at Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce said, “I have been preparing the Shabad ‘sabhe jee Samal Apni Meher Kar ’ since the past one week. I feel confident that my performance will go well.”

178 applications were received for divinity this year, out of which only 38 applicants turned up for trials. Looking at the low turnout, Tanushree, a representative of the organising committee at Kamala Nehru said, “Many applicants thought that divinity was a subcategory to vocals because of which they had filled the form incorrectly and their application was rejected for this category.” Krishna Shree, another member of the organising committee said, “There have been many clashes in the preliminary trials because of which many applicants have prioritised other categories over Divinity and haven’t turned up for these trials.”

Mata Sundri College, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, and Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce are the four colleges that offer admission on the basis of this category.

Trials for Creative Writing, which have received 1395 applications, were conducted at Hansraj College on 15th June and the trails for Debate- English and Hindi commenced on 14th June at Zakir Husain Delhi College (Evening). The trails for NCC, which received the highest number of applications at 3,019, will commence on 19th June at SGTB Khalsa College. The preliminary trials are scheduled to end on 21st June and the list of selected candidates for final trials will be declared on 22nd June.

 

Feature Image Credits: DU Beat
Muskan Sethi
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Events

Commxcelsior: Commerce Society Fest of KNC

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The Commerce Association of Kamala Nehru College concluded its annual departmental fest on 9th Feburary 2018. The success of the event was very well evidenced by the increasing participation received from everyone’s end.The triumph of the event couldn’t have been possible without the wholehearted participation of students from different universities and the endless efforts put in by the entire organizing committee in each and every stage of the fest. Commcentric, The Commerce Association would like to thank you all for making Commxcelsior praise worthy! We look forward to see you all next year.

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Daulat Ram College

Admit Card Blunder Leaves Students Miffed

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Many students studying Journalism Honours and Psychology Honours under CBCS guidelines received information about the Skill Enhancement Course’s external and internal assessments’ final marks distribution from their college’s faculty members close to the date of their final examination. With the dates of receiving this information varying in different colleges, students from Journalism Honours in Kamala Nehru College (KNC) learnt about the same from their teachers hours before their examination. Interestingly, the confusion of the Psychology Honours’ batch of Daulat Ram College (DRC) was clarified only upon receiving the question paper.

The discrepancy was found out in various colleges upon receiving the admit card. Students of Journalism Honours in KNC and Lady Shri Ram College (LSR) found a 50-50 marks distribution for external and practical assessment for SEC in their admit cards. While KNC students had been studying the course keeping the 50-50 distribution in mind, LSR students were uncertain as they had been following the 75-25 marks distribution, with 25 being allotted for internal assessment. Students from other colleges also underwent similar confusion. “Our admit cards said that the SEC paper that was documentary production would be of 50 marks. But the paper actually was for 75 marks.”, said Aditya, a Journalism Honours student from DCAC.

The situation varied across different colleges and different departments. In certain colleges, the final distribution came to the students’ knowledge quite late, while in certain colleges like Indraprastha College for Women (IPCW), there had been no discrepancy about the same neither in the admit cards, nor with the faculty.

The entire situation around the distribution of marks created confusion and hustle among students. “We were pretty confused since we didn’t know how the marks would be divided and how we are supposed to answer had it been for 50 marks.”, said Utkarsha, a Psychology Honours student from Daulat Ram College, where no clarification from the faculty had been received regarding the SEC Emotional Intelligence paper.

DU Beat reached out to faculty members, but received no comments from their end. There is still uncertainty whether the discrepancy had been for the Journalism Honours and Psychology Honours courses only.

Such action by the college administration as well as the faculty members makes us question whether the students’ best interests are really at heart. After all the formalities and unnecessary steps the students are forced to go through to receive their admit cards, such a massive error with regards to the marks distribution is a careless mistake by the authorities. Students who prepared accordingly, having faith in the college administration and the teachers, were shocked on the day of the examination. With all the buzz around exams and the pressure on students, why was this matter handled so inadequately by the authorities?

 

Priyal Mahtta
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Cultural Festivals

Highlights from Ullas 2017 at Kamala Nehru College

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Ullas, Kamala Nehru College’s annual cultural fest, being held on 22nd and 23rd March 2017, began with a power-packed morning. There was an air of hustle bustle, along with several attendees who gathered within the college premises to give this much anticipated fest an energetic start.

The fest was inaugurated by Ms. Shikha Sharma, the CEO of Axis Bank and accompanied by the Principal, Dr. Kalpana Bhakuni. The inauguration consisted of lighting the lamp, followed by a keynote address by the chief guest and the Principal. After the fest was declared open, a variety of cultural events were all set to take place and enthral the audiences.

The enthralling western dance competition, Indian solo and group dance competition, and Indian choir competition were amongst the most popular events on the first day. The solo and group Indian classical dance event, hosted by Nupur, the Indian dance society of Kamala Nehru College, was one of the first events wherein the audience witnessed mesmerising dances from across the nation, be it Oddisi or Mohiniattam. The Indian music society of Kamala Nehru College, Sangeetika, held the Indian choir competition, which was a treat to the ears for all those who attended this musical morning consisting of ragas and taals. A thrilling event as always, the western dance competition had the entire auditorium packed to the brim, with students cheering for the participating teams. As the teams grooved along to catchy renditions of popular songs, the performances were a major hit.

indian-folk-dance ullas-winners indian-choir western-dance-competition

Day 1 ended with three musical performances by a number of celebrities. First, Hamsa Band got the audience all geared up and had them singing along to their renditions of popular Bollywood songs. Some of these included latest hits such as “Humma Humma” as well as some nostalgic numbers like “Hum Kis Galli Jaa Rahe Hain”.

Next up, Dhruv Sangari started the Sufiana Night with dim lights and soft sounds. After his soothing performance, the day was finally concluded by a performance from the renowned Nizami Brothers, who left the audience feeling calm and relaxed after such a full day. Ullas 2017 was off to a great start on its first day!

The second day of the annual cultural fest of Kamala Nehru College, Ullas’17, started off with the incredible performances of the Western Music Choirs of various colleges in the event Rhythm and Blues hosted by Zephyr, the Western  Music Society of Kamala Nehru College. Nrityakriti, a choreography competition curated by Adagio, the choreography society of Kamala Nehru College saw the participation of DU’s most exuberant dance creations which revolved around socially charged themes.

LaVogue, a fashion show competition organised by Glitz, the Fashion society of Kamala Nehru College saw glamour, poise and style of the best kind. The warm afternoon witnessed excited spirits with the electrifying performances exhibited at the Bass Drop, the band competition. The event saw motley of genres entertaining the crowd.

The musical high was carried forward by DJ Mash and Monkey Junk with the EDM evening. With groovy renditions, the contemporary hits mixed with adrenaline pumping beats were thoroughly enjoyed by the audience.

The two-day extravaganza pulled its curtains with the charged crowd dancing to the much-anticipated Star Night with the famous singer, Jubin Nautiyal, of ‘Humma Humma Again’ fame. As Ullas 2017 came to a close, the crowd exuberantly grooved towards the culmination of an enthralling fest.

Featured Image Credits: Sahil Chauhan for DU Beat

Saumya Kalia
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Vineeta Rana
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Joyee Bhattacharya
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Niharika Dabral
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Radhika Boruah
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Campus Central

Day 1 at Ullas’17: A Rhapsody of Melodies

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A bundle of enthralling competitions and a string of musical charm, such was the cultural spectacle at Kamala Nehru College’s annual fiesta, Ullas!
Ullas, Kamala Nehru College’s annual cultural fest, being held on 22nd and 23rd March 2017, began with a power-packed morning on its first day. There was an air of hustle bustle, along with several attendees who gathered within the college premises to give this much-anticipated fest an energetic start.
The fest was inaugurated by Ms. Shikha Sharma, the CEO of Axis Bank, accompanied by the Principal, Dr. Kalpana Bhakuni. The inauguration consisted of lighting the lamp, followed by a keynote address by the chief guest and the Principal. After the fest was declared open, a variety of cultural events were all set to take place and enthral the audiences. The solo Indian classical dance event, hosted by Nupur, the Indian dance society of Kamala Nehru College, was one of the first events wherein the audience witnessed mesmerising dance forms from all across the nation, be it Oddisi or Mohiniattam. Raghav from Sri Venkateswara College and Suryansh from Maharaja Agrasen College shared the first position. Nimisha from Janki Devi Memorial College stood second, and Sharanya from Indraprastha University stood third.

Next in line were the riveting performances in the group Indian folk dance competition which was also held by Nupur. The performances were packed with the power of Bhangra from Punjab and the charm of Kalbelia from Rajasthan. The first position was bagged by Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College and Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College for their enthralling Bhangra performances. The second position was bagged by Nazakat, the Indian dance society of Gargi College for their ‘Badhai’ (dance form of Madhya Pradesh) dance performance, and the third position was bagged by Nrityakriti, the Indian dance society of Maitreyi College for their mesmerising Haryanvi folk dance.

Simultaneously, the Indian music society of Kamala Nehru College, Sangeetika, held the Indian choir competition, which was a treat to the ears for all those who attended this musical morning consisting of ragas and taals. The first position was bagged by Tarkaas, the Indian music society of the Institute of Home Economics, the second position was secured by Samranjini, the Indian music society of Gargi College and the third position was held by Alankar, the Indian music society of Hindu College.

The evening of the first day of Ullas had several highlights. After the Indian dance events were concluded, the western group dance event was conducted. A thrilling event as always, it had the entire auditorium packed to the brim, with students cheering for the participating teams. Misba of Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce won first place, with Verve of Sri Venkateswara College and Zeal of Maitreyi College winning the second and third prizes respectively.
Day 1 ended on a note of musical high with three endearing performances. First, Hamsa Band got the audience all geared up and had them singing along to their renditions of popular Bollywood songs. Some of these included latest hits such as “Humma Humma” as well as some nostalgic numbers like “Hum Kis Galli Jaa Rahe Hain”. Next up, Dhruv Sangari started the Sufiana Night with dim lights and soft sounds. After his soothing performance, the day was finally concluded by a performance from the renowned Nizami Brothers, who left the audience feeling calm and relaxed after such a full day. Ullas 2017 was off to a great start on its first day!

Joyee Bhattacharya
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Vineeta Rana
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Saumya Kalia
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DUB Speak

‘A’ for Accreditation : Does the NAAC score of your college really matter?

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From sudden infrastructural changes to administrative departments running around and looking all dazed and cold feet, whether we choose to agree or disagree, but the preparation for NAAC inspection sent almost every college in a frenzy last year. And with the NAAC Peer Team coming, preparations caught up in full swing, involving an uncanny resemblance to a household situation where an unforeseen wedding had suddenly come up. With all the white-washing, denting-painting, revamping, reckless spending of money, running around, fake smiling, boastful talks about one’s college in the air during ‘NAAC days’, our belief in the aforementioned analogy only gets stronger.

With a panel touted as a meticulously chosen handful of very experienced academicians and people who understand the ‘education system very well’ coming and assessing colleges under NAAC, the question arises, does a grading matter after all?

What is NAAC?

The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) is an autonomous body established by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India to assess and accredit institutions of higher education in the country. An outcome of the recommendations of the National Policy in Education (1986) which laid special emphasis on upholding the quality of higher education in India, the NAAC was established in 1994 with its headquarters at Bangalore.

Upon requests by individual colleges and universities, the primary accreditation agency of the country conducts assessments and grades institutions. The agency’s cumulative gradation of institutions is based on parameters like curriculum, faculty, research, infrastructure, learning resources, organisation, governance and student services.

The process: How does it accredit colleges

Assessment and Accreditation are broadly used for understanding the “Quality Status” of an institution. In the context of Higher Education, the accreditation status indicates that the particular Higher Educational Institutions (HEI) – a College, a University, or any other recognised Unit therein, meets the standards of quality as set by the Accreditation Agency, in terms of its performance, related to the educational processes and outcomes, covering the curriculum, teaching-learning, evaluation, faculty, research, infrastructure, learning resources, organisation, governance, financial well-being and student services.

The top and the bottom: How did DU perform

While most colleges applied for the NAAC accreditation long back, the visits majorly took place last year and the scores were released soon after. In the initial phase, IPCW secured a CGPA of 3.33 (Grade A) and ANDC secured the second spot by getting a CGPA of 3.31 (Grade A).  These were followed by Gargi College (3.30), St. Stephen’s College (3.21), Jesus and Mary College (3.26), Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies (3.16), Ramanujan College (3.06), Shivaji College (3.26), Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce (3.02), Keshav Mahavidyalaya (3.01), Bharati College (2.85), PGDAV (2.74), Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College (2.63), and Motilal Nehru College (2.60).

Later in the year, SRCC and LSR emerged at the top with a whooping score of 3.65 and 3.61 respectively. Take a look at the top 10 scorers in the table here.

Top 10 scorers 

Image credits: HT Media
Image credits: HT Media

These scores are valid for five years after which the colleges will again have to apply for accreditation. It was in 2012 that UGC made accreditation compulsory for higher educational institutions and DU executive council adopted the decision in 2014.

Does the grade even matter?

As far as we remember, such a panel as meticulously chalked out as NAAC didn’t exist many years back. While grading brings in a state of competitive spirit (as if the previous branding and rep-bias that exists in the university wasn’t enough already) the question arises, does the same grade then not end up shining the pride of the already well established and some popular DU colleges and create biases against some others who might actually be needing a lift from the loom of being less sought after and meagerly funded?

Whether the committee gives out grades on the hastily dip-dyed infrastructure especially revamped for their visit or the actual system in place is still a question for many to ponder upon.

The accreditation process got a thumbs up from some colleges, however, many raised objections over the assessment criteria too from time to time. Speaking to a popular national daily, Babli Saraf, principal of Indraprastha College for Women, said there shouldn’t be a “one-size-fits-all” criteria for colleges. “The criteria shouldn’t be the same for a liberal arts college like ours, where we do not have the provisions for a laboratory and are not involved in research publications,” she said.

In most cases, colleges started a laborious and hasty revamp revolution, to save their grace in front of the NAAC peer team and not to raise their quality standard in general altogether. When your transformation drive is initiated to fulfil a set of stipulated  ideas by a panel that is not even remotely looking at how you provide for the students, the timely assessment of whether the students and teachers are happy with the administration of the college, whether the college has some unique traits that may not figure in its already set parameters, if the college is lacking in research, what should it do, then that grading doesn’t stand much ground. The NAAC website says that they provide a ‘qualitative part of the outcome as a Peer Team Report (PTR)’ which is an objective report prepared by the Team highlighting its evaluative judgements, mostly using precise keywords instead of long sentences about the college under consideration, but I doubt these objective answers bring any real on-ground changes.

Does a low grading not mar the reputation of a college that might be in dire need of those funds, facilities and attention that it rightfully deserves in order to raise itself to a better education imparting platform? What good is a grade for colleges that are already popular among students and parents and get truckloads of funds? Should a grade not help encourage a college to become a more holistic space than label it as an ‘A’, ‘B’ or ‘C’ type college for years to come. Finally, does a grade mean anything more than a fancy wall hanging of a newspaper clipping on the college walls for many many years, or does it actually ignites change? This is for time to tell and for us to ponder.

If you are interested in reading about NAAC and the process, log on to http://www.naac.gov.in/ for detailed information.

Feature Image: DU Beat 

Riya Chhibber

[email protected]

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