After ABVP protest, DU sets up panel to examine one-year PG seat hike

Delhi University has set up a six-member committee after ABVP demanded more seats in its one-year postgraduate programmes. The move follows concerns that rising eligibility under the four-year undergraduate system has outpaced available admissions.

In Short

• ABVP protested outside Arts Faculty over shortage in one-year PG seats
• Student delegation later submitted a memorandum to Registrar Prof. Vikas Gupta
• ABVP linked rising demand to NEP's four-year undergraduate programme rollout

Delhi University (DU) has constituted a six-member committee to examine demands for increasing seats in its one-year postgraduate (PG) programmes for the 2026–27 academic session, hours after the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) staged a protest outside the Arts Faculty on Thursday.

The ABVP demonstration, which drew students from various colleges affiliated with the university, highlighted concerns over the limited number of seats available in one-year postgraduate programmes.

Following the protest, an ABVP delegation submitted a memorandum to University Registrar Prof. Vikas Gupta, seeking an immediate increase in seats across all one-year PG courses.

ABVP CITES SEAT SHORTAGE AMID NEP TRANSITION

According to the student organisation, the introduction of the four-year undergraduate programme under the National Education Policy (NEP) has resulted in a growing number of students becoming eligible for one-year postgraduate courses.

However, the existing intake capacity has not kept pace with the increase in demand, leaving many eligible and meritorious students without admission opportunities.

"The number of seats available in one-year postgraduate programmes is significantly lower than the number of students graduating from the four-year undergraduate programme.

As a result, many deserving students are being denied higher education due to limited capacity," the ABVP said, demanding a substantial increase in seats across all one-year PG programmes.

Responding to the demand, Delhi University issued a notification stating that it had received several representations seeking an increase in seats for one-year postgraduate programmes.

The university has constituted a six-member committee to examine the requests and recommend measures for their implementation.

The committee, headed by the Dean (Academic Affairs), includes the Dean (Admissions), Dean (Social Work), the Head of the Department of Chemistry, the Joint Registrar (Legal), and the Deputy Registrar (Recruitment and Promotion). The panel has been asked to submit its recommendations within 10 days.

The university notification, however, does not specify the extent of any proposed increase in seats. It only states that the committee will deliberate on the issue and submit its recommendations within the stipulated timeframe.

ABVP WELCOMES PANEL, SEEMS SWIFT ACTION

Welcoming the university's decision, ABVP Delhi State Secretary Sarthak Sharma described the formation of the committee as a positive step but urged the administration to act swiftly.

"Delhi University remains the preferred destination for lakhs of students across the country. The number of students seeking admission to one-year postgraduate courses after completing four-year undergraduate programmes is steadily increasing. The university administration must immediately increase the number of seats so that no eligible student is deprived of higher education simply due to a lack of seats," Sharma said.

He further urged the university to take a decision in the interest of students within the committee's 10-day timeline.

The ABVP also warned that if the university fails to take a positive decision on increasing seats after the committee submits its recommendations, the organisation will intensify its agitation to safeguard student interests.

The committee's recommendations are expected to play a key role in shaping admissions to Delhi University's one-year postgraduate programmes for the upcoming academic session.

- Ends