DU TO DISCUSS ADOPTION OF ENTRANCE TEST FOR ADMISSIONS

NEW DELHI: Delhi University (DU) might see the implementation of Central Universities Common Entrance Test (CUCET) from next year in accordance with the University Grants Commission (UGC) directions to central universities to prepare for its implementation from the 2022-23 academic session.

DU vice-chancellor Yogesh Singh said on Tuesday the university will place the proposal for discussing CUCET before the academic council and executive council before its adoption. “The university has received the communication from the UGC. We will place this proposal before our statutory bodies, academic council, and executive council, and finalise how DU will adopt CUCET,” said Singh.

The entrance test was put off due to the pandemic this year.

While sections of teachers raised apprehensions about implementing a common entrance test for admission, university officials said that the test would streamline the admission process and resolve the issue of high cutoffs the university witnesses every year.

Teachers’ group Academics for Action and Development (AAD) member and former DU executive council member, Rajesh Jha, said reforms, though required, should not be imposed unilaterally on all universities without deliberation. Jha also said that the entrance test might work to the disadvantage of students who aim to shift streams after Class 12. “A science student may want to shift to a non-science course for graduation. Such students might find the entrance test inconvenient,” said Jha.

Former executive council member AK Bhagi said, “In my view, the university should adopt a policy only after considering that the move should not encourage private coaching.”

DU registrar Vikas Gupta said the entrance will allow for optimum utilisation of seats and streamline admission: “Based on the entrance score, we will be able to give admission. The concerns that arise due to the variable marking policy of different boards will also be solved.”