Delhi University passes Rs 1,717.45 crore budget; 75% fee concession to PwBD students

NEW DELHI: The Delhi University's Executive Council (EC) passed the DU budget at the 1269th meeting amounting to Rs 1717.45 crore for financial year 2024-2025. The council also approved the provision of 75% concession in the total fee for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) candidates in admission to PhD courses.

The university will now grant 75% concession in total fees to PwBD students seeking admission to PhD programs step. This step has been taken fostering greater accessibility and opportunities in higher education.

Special opportunity for Covid-affected students

The DU executive council has announced a special opportunity for students adversely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic to complete their degrees. DU VC Yogesh Singh underlined the importance of providing relief to students who completed their academic periods in 2021-22 and 2022-23, recognising the stress and anxiety they may be experiencing regarding their academic status. The university will provide these students another chance to appear for the remaining papers required to fulfill their degree requirements.

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The council further announced a special moderation provision to assist students facing difficulty in completing their degree programmes. A special moderation of up to 10 marks will now be awarded to students who have one exam left in their course, providing them with a path to degree completion even in difficult situations.

Budget for academic and non-academic vacancies

A total of Rs 553.95 crore has been set aside for salary head in the approved budget estimate for the fiscal year 2024–2025. This states that the regular faculty salary has been allocated Rs 307.32 crore, the regular non-faculty salary has been allocated Rs 123.68 crore, and other subjects, such as leave encashment, long-term care insurance, children's education allowance, medical reimbursement, and other retirement benefits, have been allocated Rs 122.95 crore. Moreover, Rs 935.26 crore has been allocated for academic and non-academic vacant posts.

Along with this, a budget estimate of Rs 154.88 crore has been announced for buildings, books and journals, laboratory equipment, class room equipment and furniture, computers, campus development and CCTV surveillance and other capital assets.