DU One-Year PG Programme: Teachers' body claims Delhi University bypassing decision-making process

NEW DELHI: The Democratic Teachers' Front (DTF) on Saturday opposed Delhi University's move to invite colleges to launch the one-year postgraduate programme from the 2026-27 academic session, alleging that the proposal was being pushed through without discussion and adequate infrastructure.

In a statement, the teachers' body claimed that colleges had received a WhatsApp message from the university registrar asking whether they were willing to start the one-year PG programme and to immediately send proposals indicating courses and intake.

Calling the move "frivolous" and reflective of a "cavalier attitude" towards students, the DTF alleged that the university administration was bypassing established decision-making processes.

"Less than a week has passed since the Academic Council and Executive Council meetings were held... the university administration's move reveals that it no longer considers it necessary to discuss such important moves in the statutory bodies," the statement said.

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Limited seats in one-year PG

According to the DTF, the first batch of students completing the four-year undergraduate programme under the National Education Policy (NEP) framework had already faced challenges due to the implementation of the fourth year and the limited availability of seats in the one-year PG programme.

While the university later increased seats under pressure, it did not proportionately expand infrastructure or teaching resources, the teachers' body claimed.

The DTF further argued that colleges were already grappling with increased student intake under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota and the additional burden of the fourth year without corresponding increases in teaching and non-teaching staff.

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One-year PG burden on teachers

It alleged that launching the one-year PG programme in colleges would further increase teachers' workload and strain the existing infrastructure, particularly in laboratory-based departments.

It also questioned the timing of the move, noting that admissions to the one-year PG programme had not yet begun while classes for the second year of the existing two-year postgraduate courses were already underway.

The DTF expressed concern over the university's reported plans to amend PhD ordinances to permit direct doctoral admissions after the fourth year of undergraduate study, saying such measures would add to the uncertainty for students.

It said it supported cooperative teaching arrangements between colleges and university departments, but opposed what it described as "ill-designed" measures to implement NEP-driven reforms.