DU ACAD COUNCIL OKAYS CUET FOR PG ADMISSIONS; PLAN AWAITS TOP BODY’S APPROVAL

NEW DELHI: The Delhi University’s academic council (AC) on Tuesday approved a resolution to introduce the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for admissions to postgraduate (PG) eats in the 2023-24 session.

The decision will now require a final stamp of approval from the university’s executive council, which is scheduled to meet on December 3.

Under the current system, 50% of PG candidates who did their bachelors at DU get direct admission to the university, based on their merit in their qualifying examinations. The remaining 50% seats are filled on the basis of candidates’ ranks in an entrance test.

The council also approved changes to classroom size for lectures and tutorials in both undergraduate (UG) and PG programmes, based on recommendations by a six-member committee headed by DU south campus director Prakash Singh, as well as the syllabi for the second semester of various undergraduate courses, and a hike in PHD thesis submission fee.

As part of the changes to classroom sizes, tutorial groups will now consist of 30 students for UG courses and 25 for PG courses, and the size of practical classes will be 25 students in UG courses and 15-20 students in PG courses.

At least six members of the council registered their dissent against the change in classroom size, noting that the introduction of uniformity in the teacher-student ratio will have adverse consequences for the quality of teaching-learning processes.

DU registrar Vikas Gupta said, “Some members had concerns pertaining to the classroom size. We have sought suggestions and will consider them.”

The AC also approved a resolution to raise the fee for PHD thesis evaluation. Currently, the thesis submission fee is ₹5,000 for students with a fellowship, and ₹3,000 for students without a fellowship. As per the amended fee structure, students with fellowship will have to pay ₹7,500 while students without fellowship will have to pay ₹5,500.