Delhi University changes credit pattern for 4th year UG students; 'hampering education quality,' say teachers

The University of Delhi (UoD) has revised the credits for 4th-year students under the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework (UGCF) 2022 from the academic session 2026-27. The four credits will be added to the dissertation, academic project, and entrepreneurship track, increasing the total to 10 credits from the existing six.

As part of the academic restructuring under the UGCF 2022, the courses listed under Discipline Specific Core (DSC) in semester 7 and 8 across all UG programmes may be removed and included under the Discipline Specific Elective (DSE) pool of that discipline in the respective Semesters, according to an official statement.

From the academic year 2026-27, students will have options to study only three courses each in semester 7 and 8 along with the academic track such as three DSEs from the pool, two DSEs and one Generic Elective (GE) or one DSE and two GES, the statement read.

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“The four credits that were assigned to the DSC shall be added to the academic track i.e. Dissertation/Academic Project/ Entrepreneurship tracks, thus making it Ten credits instead of Six credits earlier. Accordingly, academic tracks shall carry a total of Twenty credits (Ten in semester VII and Ten in semester VIII),” the university said.

Expressing disapproval over the university’s decision to increase credit points, Anumeha Mishra, assistant professor, faculty of law, University of Delhi, and member, academic council, UoD, said: “By pushing through a drastic restructuring of the UGCF via a Registrar's notification — bypassing the Academic Council and Executive Council entirely — the University has completely disregarded the proper process. This decision will unrealistically burden fourth-year students.”

Mithuraaj Dhusiya, elected member, executive council of University of Delhi, also stated: "This top-down approach where a handful of people decide arbitrary changes in the academic structure with no discussion in the statutory bodies - Academic Council & Executive Council - is very unfortunate and shows the non-seriousness of Delhi University administration.”

“Replacing a core paper with an elective is very problematic. Electives are always in danger of going the cluster way or Swayam way - thus hampering the quality of education to students as well as shrinking the stable workload of teachers and departments,” Dhusiya added.