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BCI Commands DU for Law Graduates’ Enrolment Despite Attendance Issues

By DU Beat August 14, 2026

The Bar Council of India directs DU and other law universities to enrol law graduates covered by the SC order despite attendance shortfall.

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has instructed the University of Delhi (DU) to process the enrolment applications of law graduates protected under a recent Supreme Court order, stating that applications should not be rejected or terminated solely on the ground of attendance deficiencies. The BCI has circulated the order to all State Bar Councils, recognised universities, and approved Centres of Legal Education for implementation during the 2026–27 academic session.

The order was issued by Justice Rajendra Menon, Co-Chairperson of the BCI’s Legal Education Committee. The Committee noted that the Supreme Court’s order of 21 July 2025 granted one-time protection to students whose academic sessions were in progress when the Delhi High Court delivered its judgment.

The decision comes against the backdrop of the CAP Round I option form deadline having been extended until 11 August. The BCI stated that an “immediate and exceptional arrangement” was necessary to ensure that eligible law colleges and students were not excluded by the time required to complete the statutory approval process.

Institutions must upload all required documents, furnish the prescribed information, and pay all applicable fees. The order states that failure to complete the process could result in the withholding, modification, suspension, or withdrawal of approval, along with further action in accordance with the law. The BCI has clarified that the current conditional approval neither waives nor regularises any pending approvals or financial liabilities relating to previous academic years.

The Supreme Court directed that students covered by its order should not be denied the opportunity to sit their final examinations solely because of attendance shortfalls. It also permitted those who were unable to appear, either wholly or partly, in their final examinations to sit supplementary examinations for the relevant academic session.

The BCI has further clarified that attendance shortages arising after enrolment with the Bar Council are not covered by the relief. The benefit is strictly confined to the students and academic sessions specified in the Supreme Court’s order of 21 July 2025 and does not extend to future admissions.

To qualify under the scheme, a candidate must have been admitted to a recognised LL.B. programme and permitted to sit the relevant final or supplementary examination. The candidate must also have successfully completed the LL.B. course and fulfilled all other statutory requirements for enrolment.

Rajarshi Ghosh

[email protected]

Image Credits – Lawstreet.com

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Features

The Game Theory of Dirty Dishes and Nuclear War

By DU Beat August 9, 2026

From dirty dishes to nuclear deterrence, game theory explains why we cooperate, defect, and sometimes make decisions that leave everyone worse off.

Your roommate hasn’t washed the dishes for three days. You could wash them yourself, confront her, or simply wait and see how long she can tolerate the smell. The problem? She is probably running the same calculation in her head. Congratulations. You are playing game theory.

It turns out that the standoff in your shared kitchen, the checkout queue at a supermarket, and the Cold War all have something surprisingly in common. They are situations where what you do depends on what someone else might do. So, What Exactly Is Game Theory?

In very simple terms, game theory is the study of strategic decision-making. It looks at how people, companies, governments, animals, or even computers make choices when the outcome depends not just on what they do, but also on what others do. If you are deciding whether to carry an umbrella on a cloudy day, your decision depends mostly on the weather. But if you are deciding whether to wash the dishes, your decision depends on whether your roommate will wash them first. That is where game theory begins.

It asks a deceptively simple question: given what the other side might do, what is the smartest move for me?

Modern game theory has a more definite starting point. In 1944, mathematician John von Neumann and economist Oskar Morgenstern published Theory of Games and Economic Behavior, laying much of the mathematical foundation for the field. Their work argued that many economic and social decisions cannot be understood by looking at individuals in isolation; they have to be understood through strategic relationships between people. And perhaps the most famous idea in game theory is the Prisoner’s Dilemma.

Imagine Tanya and Cinque have been arrested for robbing the Hibernia Savings Bank. They are placed in separate cells, unable to see or communicate with each other. A clever prosecutor gives each of them the same choice: confess or remain silent. If Tanya confesses while Cinque stays silent, Tanya goes free while Cinque receives a heavy sentence. The same applies in reverse.

Now imagine what is going through Tanya’s head.

“If Cinque confesses and I stay silent, I’m doomed. But if I confess and he stays silent, I walk free. Either way, confessing feels like the safer choice.”

Cinque is probably thinking the same thing. So, both confess. And that’s the trap. From an individual perspective, confessing appears to be the rational choice. Yet when both players make that choice, they end up worse off than if they had both stayed silent. The paradox is simple: what seems rational for each person individually can produce a worse outcome for everyone collectively.

Source: Britannica

The classic Prisoner’s Dilemma was developed in 1950 by mathematicians Merrill Flood and Melvin Dresher at the RAND Corporation. It was later formalised and given its famous name by Canadian mathematician Albert W. Tucker.

And suddenly, a story about two fictional criminals starts looking a lot like your kitchen.

Your roommate probably knows that even if she doesn’t do the dishes, you will eventually get tired of looking at them and wash them yourself. From her perspective, doing nothing has an obvious advantage: she gets a clean kitchen without having to do the work. And if you stop washing the dishes to send a message, you might simply create another problem. What if she thinks the same way?

Nobody washes the dishes because nobody wants to be the only person doing all the work. The plates pile up, the glasses disappear under a layer of something suspicious, and eventually your kitchen starts looking like a biological experiment. Neither of you necessarily wants a dirty kitchen. The problem is that both of you have an incentive to wait for the other person to act.

This logic appears in places far removed from your kitchen, too. We’ve all done this at a supermarket. You walk towards the checkout, scan the queues and instinctively choose the shortest one. But here’s the funny part: everyone else is doing the same thing. The shortest queue attracts more people. As more people join it, it becomes slower. Eventually, switching queues may no longer seem worth the effort.

This is close to the intuition behind one of game theory’s most famous concepts: Nash equilibrium. Named after mathematician John Nash, a Nash equilibrium is a situation in which no player can improve their outcome simply by changing their strategy while everyone else keeps theirs unchanged. Everyone is trying to make the best decision for themselves. Yet because everyone is responding to everyone else’s choices, those individual decisions shape the outcome for the whole group.

The stakes get considerably higher when the “roommates” are two nuclear superpowers.

During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union possessed nuclear arsenals capable of devastating each other. Neither side could simply assume that the other would hold back. Each had to consider the same terrifying question: What happens if we attack first? The answer was deterrence.

At the heart of this was the concept of Mutually Assured Destruction, or MAD. The basic logic was brutal. If one side launched a nuclear attack, the other could retaliate. That retaliation could be devastating enough to destroy both sides. The point wasn’t that the United States and the Soviet Union trusted each other. They didn’t need trust.

They needed the certainty that attacking first would come with an unbearable cost. In this sense, the Cold War was shaped by a strategic equilibrium. Neither side could safely improve its position simply by attacking, because the other side had the ability and incentive to retaliate. The result was a strange kind of stability: peace maintained not through friendship, but through the fear of mutual destruction. The war stayed “cold” because the consequences of making the first move were almost unimaginably high.

Game theory isn’t some abstract concept buried inside an economics textbook. It is playing out every day – in your kitchen, at the supermarket checkout and in the decisions made by governments armed with nuclear weapons. Your roommate may not be thinking about John Nash when she leaves the dishes in the sink. But she is still making a strategic decision.

The supermarket queue may seem like a trivial choice, but it follows the same basic logic: your best move depends on what everyone else is doing. And nuclear deterrence takes that logic to its most consequential extreme. But the underlying question is remarkably similar: What should I do when my outcome depends on what you do?

That is game theory.

Arshia Sharma

[email protected]

Image credits: vecteezy.com

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Admission Season

DU Extends Round 2 Seat Acceptance Deadline Due to Admission Rush

By DU Beat July 27, 2026

DU extends Round 2 CSAS acceptance, verification, and fee payment deadlines for UG admissions, giving candidates until July 29 to secure their seats.

The University of Delhi has pushed back key deadlines in its ongoing CSAS Round 2 undergraduate admissions, giving lakhs of CUET aspirants a little more breathing room to lock in their seats.

According to the revised schedule, candidates allotted seats in Round 2, announced on July 25, now have until tomorrow to complete the acceptance process.

Once a candidate accepts their allotted seat, the process doesn’t end there. As part of the process, colleges still need to verify documents and approve applications, and this window has now been extended too, running through July 28 at 4:59 PM. Only after doing this can candidates move to the final and most decisive step: paying the admission fee, for which the university has set July 29, 4:59 PM, as the new cut-off.

The university has been firm in flagging what’s at stake. Skipping any single step in the chain, from acceptance, verification, or fee payment, can risk getting the provisional seat allotment cancelled altogether, effectively knocking candidates out of the running for that seat.

For those still navigating the process, the steps remain the same as in previous rounds. Candidates need to log into the portal using their CUET UG 2026 application number and password, head to their dashboard to review the college and programme they’ve been allotted, and click ‘Accept’ before time runs out.

The extension is the latest in a string of scheduling adjustments that have marked this year’s admission season, reflecting a pattern familiar to anyone who has been through DU’s Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) before. Deadline extensions have become something of a recurring feature of the process in recent years, often granted in response to technical glitches, document verification delays, or simply the sheer scale of applicants the system has to process each round.

For thousands of students across Delhi and beyond, these few extra days will help them secure a seat at their preferred college.

The guidelines advised students to complete all steps well before the stated deadlines and to keep track of further notifications on the official DU admissions portal.

Image Source: Delhi University Official Website

Aamna Rehman

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Arts & Culture

A Global Tapestry: Goals, Heritage, and Halftime Shows at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

By DU Beat July 25, 2026

Apart from being the biggest tournament in the world of football, the FIFA World Cup is also a celebration of heritage and cultures from across the world. From the quiet respect of Japanese fans practising atarimae to the roaring Viking row of Norway, the sartorial statements of the DRC, and Cape Verde’s astonishing underdog run to the knockout rounds, discover how the beautiful game united diverse nations. The tournament featured countless memorable moments, only a few of which are captured in this article.

The FIFA World Cup comes back to us every four years and brings with it a passion and love for the game like no other. Every four years, the world gathers to witness the magic of football. It accepts everyone—the seasonal fans, the die-hard football lovers, the loyalists, the fans who support every other team, and even the ones who do not really understand the rules of the game find themselves drawn towards any screen broadcasting the matches. This is what sets the FIFA World Cup apart from many other major sporting tournaments. It’s not just a battle of who reigns supreme on the field or has mastery over controlling the ball; it undeniably brings the world together. After all, football knows no borders.

But beyond goals, the FIFA World Cup 2026 offered us so much to look at and ponder over. It truly has been one of a kind. From it being the only football World Cup with 48 countries competing to an American classic Super Bowl-style halftime show being introduced for the final match, the audience has been kept on their toes the entire tournament!

This World Cup has been home to many “firsts”. Starting with the hosts themselves. For the first time in the history of the FIFA World Cup, three countries—the USA, Canada, and Mexico—had the opportunity to host the tournament in collaboration with each other. The list doesn’t end there. The number of countries competing in the tournament was also the highest that it has ever recorded. This year, a grand total of 48 teams were competing for the golden trophy. For some tiny nations, it was their first appearance at this international jamboree of football; for others, a return after a very long absence. Countries like Curaçao, Cape Verde and Bosnia and Herzegovina got their names recorded in the list of countries playing the World Cup for the first time.

With fans from all across the globe filling stadiums, what grabbed more attention than the bright and colourful national flags being waved around every corner was, undeniably, the rich cultural heritage and idiosyncrasies celebrating the beautiful game.

Every country harbours in itself a distinguished way to celebrate victory or show support. The USA is often associated with loud and expressive celebration. But Japanese fans who travelled around the world to support their national team playing in the tournament performed something that earned huge respect from others. They showed their support and love in a quiet, dignified way. It would be wrong to assume, however, that Japanese fans aren’t vocal enough or fierce in their support. Terrifying face paint, showing up dressed as fearsome samurai, and even cheering their team with gusto are testimony enough. But at the end of every match, regardless of the result, we have seen them stay behind to clean up after themselves, producing plastic bin bags seemingly from nowhere and leaving the stadium as they found it. This habit reflects their deeply rooted philosophy of atarimae (things that are naturally expected) and meiwaku (avoiding causing trouble to others). The Japanese, in this way, paid their respects to the venue, the host and fellow attendees. This is not their first time practising it; the Japanese have been doing this ever since their debut in the FIFA World Cup in 1998.

In the list of the countries that returned to the World Cup after long years of not qualifying, the Norway national team remained undefeated when it came to capturing the hearts of its audience. Be it the 6’5″ striker of the team quickly becoming the most beloved star of the netizens or their beautifully blended cultural heritage while celebrating, the team has undoubtedly got us wrapped around their fingers. Their Viking row celebration was arguably the hit of the tournament. Devised by fans in a pub back in Oslo based on the legends of Norse seafarers, the celebration showcased a wonderful tapestry of Norwegian heritage, folklore and passion for the game. Executed with equal gusto and passion by both fans and players, the call of the Norse horn, blown to announce it was about to begin, sent a ripple of excitement around the ground. Beyond this, fans won American hearts by embracing the local culture just as their own. Social media couldn’t get enough of star striker Erling Haaland buying cowboy boots and hats in Texas and his return to Oslo with a taxidermied raccoon under his arm.

Norway striker Erling Haaland arrives carrying a taxidermied raccoon after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. — Erling Haaland returned to Norway with a taxidermied raccoon.

If we are talking about capturing the centre stage at the 2026 FIFA World Cup for cultural and historical benchmarks, it would be extremely unfair to not talk of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The country last appeared in the tournament in 1974, when it was known as Zaire; after that, it had a long hiatus. Ruled by the then President Mobutu Sese Seko, who was famous for his leopard-skin caps, the team got the look upon their touchdown in Houston, styling it out in custom-tailored black suits featuring bold leopard-print panels and lapels and throwing down a sartorial marker. But such a peak fashion statement is not where it stops. They had fans scurrying into history books with the sight of superfan Michel Kuka Mboladinga’s standing statue still on a plinth for every minute of their matches.

DR Congo superfan Michel Kuka Mboladinga stands motionless during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match. — Michel Kuka Mboladinga has been a regular at DR Congo’s matches for more than a decade.

Despite having quite an underwhelming tournament, Scotland had its fans winning over Americans with their antics of celebration culture. It was the first time the Tartan Army’s team had made the World Cup finals for 28 years, and they were determined not to let go without enjoying themselves. Boston witnessed the Scottish fans take over the city within days of arriving—drinking bars dry, putting traffic cones on statues’ heads, leading locals on a merry dance through the parks and public places of Boston, invariably accompanied by bagpipes. Beyond their little antics of putting cones on top of statues lies a lesser-known Scottish ‘tradition’. This tradition is known to have started in the 1980s in Glasgow as a late-night, drunken prank with the equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington outside Glasgow’s Gallery of Modern Art getting “crowned”. This soon turned out to be seen as an unofficial symbol of Scottish culture.

Scotland's Tartan Army supporters celebrate with Scottish flags during the 2026 FIFA World Cup — Scotland fans with the Tartan Army

For 96 years, the FIFA World Cup had never witnessed the ground getting converted into a temporary stage for singers during half-time. A half-time show specifically. The World Cup final has religiously followed the same routine at half-time ever since it was established: punditry, tactical analysis, and players regrouping in the tunnel. But this year, the New Jersey stadium shook fans across the world with an intense lineup starting with Madonna. The other headliners of the show were Shakira, BTS, and Justin Bieber, with Burna Boy, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the PS22 Chorus, and Coldplay.

Shakira performs during the first-ever FIFA World Cup halftime show at the 2026 World Cup final, dancing with performers in colourful costumes. — Shakira performs at halftime during the FIFA World Cup Final on July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino spoke on the show,

“As the world unites for the most significant football match in history on Sunday, 19 July 2026, at the New York New Jersey Stadium, this groundbreaking spectacle, curated by Chris Martin of Coldplay, will celebrate football, music and our shared values, ensuring a legacy that transcends the final whistle.”

However, all this glamour didn’t go without heavy criticism. Sports medicine experts and football officials have warned that prolonged breaks can disrupt players’ physical rhythm, and IFAB has previously stated that extending halftime could negatively impact player welfare and safety because of the longer period of inactivity, potentially increasing the risk of injuries when play resumes. More critics argue that this move has drawn comparisons to the Americanisation of football, while broadcasters like the BBC and ITV were initially reluctant to air the show, preferring their usual halftime analysis before agreeing to broadcast it. Now, will this become a newly added tradition to the FIFA World Cup final? The question remains.

Lastly, the piece would remain incomplete without a note on the tiny island nation and the most captivating underdogs—Cape Verde. They have not just played the matches with diligence and a top-notch game plan but have created a history that will be remembered for years to come. They defied multiple odds to become the smallest country to earn a spot in the World Cup knockout round. With a team cobbled together with journeymen who plied their trade in the lower leagues of Europe, this band of misfit brothers held the mighty Spain to a draw in the group stage. The Cape Verdean belief that hard work and dedication will one day be rewarded was perfectly captured in the story of the side’s 40-year-old goalkeeper, Josimar José Évora Dias, better known as Vozinha. We witnessed him make 18 saves across four matches that the team played, making it difficult for international superstars like Vinícius Júnior and Lionel Messi to get past the last line of defence. Upon the team’s return to Cape Verde as nothing less than heroes, Vozinha was honoured with a newly discovered sea slug named after him.

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha waves to supporters after a 2026 FIFA World Cup match, holding the national flag inside a packed stadium. — Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha soaking up applause at the 2026 World Cup.

And just like that, the tournament has come to an end with Spain lifting the golden trophy, but more than that, for 39 days the matches have lifted the mood of its fans by bringing tremendous joy, passion, and love for the game. The tournament doesn’t only showcase goals or incredible saves but rather works as a platform blending together cultures, traditions, and celebrations from all over the world.

Image Source: Getty Images, Alamy

Chandrani

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Campus Central

DU Revises CSAS-PG 2026 Schedule; Spot Round 1 to Begin July 25

By DU Beat July 23, 2026

DU has announced a revised postgraduate admission schedule, updating the timeline for the upgrade round and spot round 1 under CSAS-PG.

With the admission process for the academic session 2026-27 underway, a revised schedule announcing dates for the upgrade round and spot round 1 under the Common Seat Allocation System for Postgraduate Admissions (CSAS-PG) has been released by DU.

Candidates allotted seats through the Delhi University PG upgradation round are required to complete the admission process by paying the prescribed fee on or before July 24, 2026. Colleges and departments will verify and approve online applications until the same date. Students who receive upgraded allocations must complete all admission formalities within the stipulated deadline to retain their allotted seats.

The university has also introduced spot round 1 to fill seats that remain vacant after the completion of the regular allocation rounds, ensuring that available postgraduate seats across departments and colleges are utilised efficiently. The round provides an opportunity for eligible applicants who were not allotted seats in the earlier rounds to secure admission to their preferred postgraduate programmes. It also enables the university to fill seats left vacant due to withdrawals, non-payment of fees, or candidates opting for admission elsewhere after previous allocation rounds.

According to the revised schedule, the list of vacant seats for spot round 1 will be published on July 25, 2026. Candidates who wish to participate must opt in for the spot round between July 25 and July 26, 2026 by 4:59 pm. To opt in, applicants are required to log in to the CSAS-PG portal using their CUET (PG) application number and password during the specified window. Only candidates who opt in during this window will be considered for seat allocation.

The university will announce the Spot Round 1 allocations on July 29, 2026. Candidates allotted seats must accept their allocation by July 31, 2026 by 4:59 pm. Colleges and departments will verify and approve online applications from July 29 to August 1, 2026 by 4:59 pm, while the final deadline for online fee payment is August 2, 2026 till 4:59 pm.

Candidates are encouraged to follow the revised schedule thoroughly and keep track of important dates to avoid any inconveniences and ensure a smooth admission process.

Image Source: DU’s official website

Bishakha Gogoi

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Campus Central

CM Rekha Gupta Pledges Infrastructure Push for Delhi University at Shaheed Bhagat Singh College’s Diamond Jubilee

By DU Beat July 17, 2026

Speaking at Shaheed Bhagat Singh College’s Diamond Jubilee curtain raiser, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta laid out plans for hostels, a subsidised canteen and expanded bus connectivity for Delhi University, alongside a college proposal for a dedicated girls’ hostel.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta spoke at the curtain raiser for Shaheed Bhagat Singh College’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations on Thursday, where she outlined infrastructure commitments for Delhi University, asserting that a nation’s progress rests on how well it invests in its youth and the quality of its education system.

According to Gupta, the state government has prioritised upgrading academic infrastructure and student housing to position Delhi as a hub for higher education. A hostel for Delhi University students on the upcoming Indira Gandhi University campus is reportedly among the measures being considered, though the proposal is yet to be finalised.

Gupta further confirmed that the university will get an Atal Canteen from August 16, offering meals at Rs 5, alongside 50 additional U-Special bus routes for the university’s students.

The Chief Minister urged students to play an active part in nation-building and encouraged colleges to partner with surrounding communities to support local children in pursuing their ambitions. She described the creativity and drive of India’s younger generation as key to realising the goals of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ and a ‘Viksit Delhi’.

Separately, the college’s administration used the occasion to press for a girls’ hostel of its own, proposing that Shaheed Bhagat Singh Evening College be shifted to an alternative site to free up its current premises for the new facility. College representatives said many of its female students commute from outside Delhi, and that the lack of on-campus housing continues to affect their safety and continuity of studies.

The event also featured a virtual walkthrough of the college’s history, along with Gupta’s unveiling of a year-long Diamond Jubilee events calendar and a QR code granting access to the institution’s digital archives. Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh and college Principal Arun Kumar Attree were reportedly among those in attendance.

Image Credits: Usha Parewa, Haribhoomi.com

Vidhi Ramchandani

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Arts & Culture

The rise of à la carte travelling: A look into the travel practices of Gen Z.

By DU Beat July 10, 2026

The single-most important factor when it came to travel opportunities used to be money. Now, a growing number of Gen Z travellers are proving that meaningful journeys are shaped less by how much they spend and more by the choices they make along the way.

Budget travelling is no longer just about spending less. For Gen Z, it is about spending smartly. Instead of choosing luxury at every step, young travellers are becoming selective about where they want to indulge. What travel looked like a few years ago has changed. Today, luxury is less about a five-star hotel and more about having an experience that feels worth the money.

This shift is often called à la carte travelling. Simply put, it means building your own trip. Instead of buying a pre-planned holiday or café dining package, you decide where to save and where to spend.

You do not have to look very far to see this. It starts right here in college. Café hopping is almost a part of student life. A day before the plan, the research begins. Which café should we go to? Is the food worth it? Does the place have a nice ambience? How far is it? Then comes the budget. Instead of booking a cab, everyone squeezes into an auto, splits the fare, reaches the café, splits the bill again, clicks pictures for Instagram and spends the evening there. They save on the commute so they can spend on the experience.

The same approach follows them when they travel. Instead of spending on every part of a trip, they spend only on the parts that make the journey memorable. They might stay in a hostel instead of a hotel, take an affordable bus instead of a flight, or use public transport or rent a scooty to explore a city, so that they can spend more on experiences that actually matter to them.

Vrushank Kupsad, a student at Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi, prefers staying in hostels because they bring people together. “Hotels have no life in them. In hostels, you meet people, share stories and make connections with strangers,” he said.

He also recalled taking an ₹800 bus from Bengaluru to Hubballi. “I ended up sharing life stories with a fellow passenger. It became one of my best travel memories,” he added.

Aaratrika Ghosh, a student at Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi, said,

“I feel inherently as a student who funds her trips with her own money through freelance and internships, budget travelling becomes a plus point to optimise travel and actually travel and not just vacation. Recently, I went on a trip to Yulla Kanda in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, and I completed it under ₹4,500 (Delhi to Delhi) while travel agencies were charging a minimum of ₹7,999. I saved money by travelling local, eating local, and supporting local homestays and hostels.”

Ananya Maurya, a student at Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi, said travelling to McLeod Ganj, Himachal Pradesh by bus and staying in a hostel made the trip both affordable and memorable.

“I still remember lying on our bunk beds in the hostel after the bus journey, talking about the reels we would make. It felt surreal that a trip which had only existed in our group chat had finally become a reality. In between, I felt like I was living in the fantasy world of Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani,” she said.

Harshit Singh, a student at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, University of Delhi, said renting a scooty allowed him and his friends to explore Dharamshala freely.

“It cost us ₹600 for two days, was budget-friendly, was less expensive than a cab, and gave us the freedom to explore the city on our own,” he said.

This is equally evident at international student conferences as well. Every year, the Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR) brings together around 700–800 student delegates from across the world in an Asian city to discuss global issues, leadership and policy. Yet, the conference is only one part of the journey. The planning around it shows how Gen-Z travels and manages the budget today.

Once delegates are added to their cohort and city groups, conversations quickly shift to budgets. Students coordinate with one another to book the same hostel or hotel, share rooms to reduce accommodation costs, compare flight fares before prices increase, and plan extra days in the host city to explore it beyond the conference. H-PAIR also shares local recommendations and places to visit, encouraging delegates to experience the city outside the conference venue.

Taken together, these choices are changing the travel economy. Instead of relying on travel agencies and fixed itineraries, many Gen Z travellers prefer planning their own journeys. Recommendations often come from fellow travellers in a hostel, a local restaurant owner, an elderly co-passenger on a bus explaining the history of a town, or even a chance conversation with a resident, rather than from a tour operator. These interactions give travellers the flexibility to change plans, stay longer at places they enjoy and discover cafés, neighbourhoods, local markets and hidden spots that are often left out of packaged tours.

As a result, money that was once spent on hefty, all-inclusive holiday packages is now finding its way to hostels, cafés, local transport providers, scooter rentals, walking tours and other local businesses, many of which are MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises). Rather than making one large travel purchase, Gen Z is distributing its budget across different parts of the journey.

À la carte travelling is doing more than changing where young people spend their money. It is also encouraging community building. Hostels have become more than just affordable accommodation; they are spaces where travellers connect, exchange recommendations, share stories and build friendships with people from different backgrounds. These interactions often continue beyond the trip, turning chance encounters into lasting connections.

For Gen Z, the value of a journey is no longer measured by how much they spend, but by the memories they create, the people they meet and the stories they bring back. As more young people travel this way, they are not only re-framing the travel economy but also creating a travel culture where experiences, human connections and shared stories matter as much as the destination itself.

Photo Credits: Mahi Mishra, Vrushank Kupsad, Ananya Maurya and Aaratrika Ghosh

Mahi Mishra

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Campus Central

NCWEB applications open for B.A. (Prog) and B.Com; last date to register: July 24

By DU Beat July 8, 2026

The NCWEB has commenced the admission process for B.A. (Prog.) and B.Com. programmes for the 2026–27 academic session. Eligible women candidates residing in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi can apply online until 24 July.

The Non-Collegiate Women’s Education Board (NCWEB) has opened admissions for its B.A. (Prog.) and B.Com. undergraduate programmes for the academic session 2026–27. Online registrations began on July 8 and will remain open until July 24.

NCWEB is inviting applications for two undergraduate programmes: B.A. (Programme), with various subject combinations on offer, and B.Com. Admissions will be granted purely on a merit basis, determined by the marks obtained by candidates in their Class XII board examinations. No entrance test has been announced for the process.

Applications are being accepted exclusively through the official NCWEB admission portal. The registration process is entirely online, with applicants required to register using a valid Email ID, create a password, and complete the CAPTCHA verification before proceeding.

The admission portal notes that candidates should not wait until the final day to pay the registration fee, as applications will only be considered complete after successful payment. Candidates registering on the portal are considered for merit-based courses at NCWEB alone, subject to eligibility criteria. Applicants have also been advised to read the detailed Bulletin of Information, available in both English and Hindi, before filling out the form.

Applicants are advised to keep their Class XII board examination mark sheets and other required documents ready before beginning the registration process. For admission-related queries, applicants may contact NCWEB’s Tutorial Building at the Faculty of Arts, University of Delhi, email [email protected], or call 011-27667866.

With the registration window now open, eligible candidates are advised to complete their applications well before the July 24 deadline to avoid potential technical issues caused by heavy traffic on the admission portal.

Following the closure of the registration window, NCWEB is expected to release merit lists and subsequent admission schedules on its official website. Applicants are advised to regularly check the portal for updates and further announcements regarding the admission process.

Kaustubh Dwivedi
[email protected]

Read Also: DU Colleges Launch Pre-Admission Outreach Programmes Ahead of UG Admissions
Image Source: X (NCWEB_Official)

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Uncategorized

Beyond Master’s Degrees: PG Diploma Programmes You Can Pursue at Delhi University

By DU Beat July 8, 2026

Delhi University offers a range of postgraduate diploma programmes across its colleges and departments, spanning fields from peace-building to cybersecurity. Here is what is on offer for 2026-27.

For students looking beyond conventional master’s degrees, Delhi University has several postgraduate diploma programmes worth knowing about. Some have deadlines coming up this week, so if any of these interest you, do not wait.

PG Intensive Diploma in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean Language

The Department of East Asian Studies offers intensive postgraduate diploma courses in Chinese (CF-1), Japanese (JF-1), and Korean (KF-1). Admissions for 2026–27 are open, with the deadline extended to 5th July 2026. Eligibility criteria and the admission notice are available here.

PG Diploma in Conflict Transformation and Peace-building

Offered through the Aung San Suu Kyi Centre for Peace at Lady Shri Ram College, this programmme focuses on conflict resolution and peace-building. The application deadline for 2026-27 is 12th July 2026. Further details pertaining to eligibility criteria and syllabus are available on this page.

PG Diploma in Cyber Security and Law (PGDCSL)

Offered by the Institute of Cyber Security and Law and conducted in Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, this programme covers the legal and technical dimensions of cybersecurity. Details on admissions for 2025-26 are available on the institute’s website, which indicates the new session would tentatively start mid-August.

PG Diploma in International Marketing and Analytics

Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce offers a postgraduate diploma in International Marketing. Admission details for 2026-27 have not been announced at the time of publication, but an official LinkedIn post confirms that details are forthcoming, along with the restructuring of the course. The bulletin of information from the 2025-26 session is available here.

PG Diploma in Financial Technology

Also offered by Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce, the details for 2026-27 sessions are forthcoming. Interested candidates are advised to regularly check the website for further updates.

PG Diploma in Global Business Operations

Shri Ram College of Commerce offers a postgraduate diploma in Global Business Operations. Based on last year’s cycle, applications are expected to open in December 2026. Candidates are advised to monitor the admissions portal for updates.

PG Diploma in Dietetics and Public Health Nutrition

Lady Irwin College offers a postgraduate diploma in Dietetics and Public Health Nutrition. Admission details for 2026-27 have not been announced at the time of publication. Eligibility criteria from the previous session are available here. Interested candidates may wish to contact the college directly for updates.

Diploma in Dietetics and Public Health Nutrition

The Institute of Home Economics offers a diploma in Dietetics and Public Health Nutrition. Admission details for 2026-27 are not confirmed at the time of publication; the most recent admission notice available is from the 2024-25 session. Programme details are on the institute’s website.

PG Diploma in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, and Drug Discovery

The Dr B.R. Ambedkar Centre for Biomedical Research offers a postgraduate diploma at the intersection of biology and data science. The last available admission notice is from 2024-25. Prospective applicants should check the DU website for updates.

Candidates are advised to verify all deadlines and eligibility criteria directly with the respective institutions, as details are subject to change.

Rishika Jain
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Campus Central

DU Colleges Launch Pre-Admission Outreach Programmes Ahead of UG Admissions

By DU Beat July 3, 2026

Ahead of DU UG Admissions 2026, colleges including LSR and Hansraj have launched pre-admission initiatives to help aspirants understand courses, campus life, and the admissions process.

As undergraduate admissions for the 2026-27 academic session approach, several Delhi University colleges, including Lady Shri Ram College for Women (LSR) and Hansraj College, have begun organising pre-admission outreach programmes to support prospective applicants ahead of admissions.

LSR has announced an online pre-admission counselling session scheduled for July 8, 2026, to be held via Zoom. The session is open to prospective applicants and aims to address queries regarding admissions, academic programmes, and student life. Interested candidates can register through the Google Form available on the college website to receive the Zoom link before the session.

Hansraj College has also launched its ‘Campus Connect’ programme ahead of admissions. Unlike LSR’s virtual session, the initiative invites aspirants to visit the campus, interact with the Principal and faculty members, participate in a live question-and-answer session, and take a guided tour of the campus. Separate sessions have been scheduled for July 6 for Arts and Commerce applicants and July 7 for Science applicants. The college publicised the initiative through its official X account, sharing programme details and registration information with prospective applicants. According to the college, the initiative aims to provide prospective students with first-hand exposure to academics, campus facilities, and student life before they submit their applications.

These initiatives come as thousands of students participate in Delhi University’s Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS-UG) for undergraduate admissions. With preference filling currently underway, colleges appear to be placing greater emphasis on engaging directly with prospective students and helping them make informed choices about their applications.

The emergence of such programmes reflects a broader effort by colleges to improve accessibility, enhance transparency, and give applicants a clearer understanding of academic opportunities and campus life as the admission process progresses.

Image Source: Hansraj College Official X Account and Lady Shri Ram College for Women Official Website

Aarushi Chaubey

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