The Delhi University has decided to continue with its four-year undergraduate programme, rejecting the University Grants Commission’s directive against it for violating the national education policy.
The UGC had ordered Delhi University and all its colleges to conduct admission only under 3-year under-graduate programme and not under FYUP for the coming session.
In a statement, the varsity reiterated that a fourth year of study would be required for an honours degree and that those studying for only three years would be given a bachelor’s degree in compliance with the national education policy’s 10+2+3 scheme.
The varsity's Academic Council has passed a resolution saying students seeking admission to undergraduate programmes would be admitted in three-year bachelor's programme (BA/B.Sc/B.Com) in their Discipline 1 (major subject) and would graduate with the corresponding degree on three years in conformity with the national education policy, a university statement said.
The decision to stand by its current plan, which has come under fire from students and teachers alike, was taken at the varsity’s academic council meeting on Saturday.
The statement added that the fourth year is optional for students who wish to obtain an honours degree.
Skill-based applied courses
The varsity, however, said it was pushing back the introduction of the new skill-based applied courses.
This course was to be introduced as part of an arrangement between Delhi University and the National Skills Development Corporation and would have provided a minimum 42,000 undergraduate students with assured jobs.
Apart from this, the proposal for approval of the BTech course in forensic science has also been deferred, the statement added. Around 46,381 students had applied for the course this year, the varsity said.