DU's First Four-Year Batch Graduates Amid Concerns Over Access and Equity
Delhi University (DU), one of the first central universities to implement the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, recently saw its first batch complete the optional fourth year. The programme, designed to integrate research into undergraduate education and align with global standards, has drawn mixed reactions from students and faculty.
According to DU Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh, about 55% of eligible undergraduates—roughly 31,000 of 71,000 students—opted for the fourth year, which awards an Honours with Research degree. The second batch is set to begin this year.
Students reported varying experiences. Aishi Mitra, an English Honours graduate from Lady Shri Ram College, said the fourth year provided a buffer to explore options and strengthened her application for postgraduate study abroad. However, she noted that many peers chose not to continue due to family financial pressures. "Students were confused, and so was the faculty," she said.
Charu Singh, a political science student at Gargi College, opted for the fourth year to pursue political consultancy and a UK postgraduate degree. She argued that India's traditional three-year degree places students at a disadvantage globally. Shrey Mehrotra, an economics Honours student at Khalsa College, highlighted difficulties in accessing data for quantitative research and said some faculty members discouraged participation.
Jessica Joy, a B.Com (Honours) student at Jesus and Mary College, initially enrolled but later withdrew, citing uncertainties and academic load. She noted that her ability to complete a dissertation on the copper industry depended heavily on her social network. "Coming from a relatively privileged background definitely helped," she said. "I thought that if I didn’t have those connections, my thesis might have hit a dead end."
Teachers and students observed that those who completed the fourth year were predominantly those who could afford to postpone entering the job market. Infrastructure strain was another concern. Abha Dev Habib, Associate Professor of Physics at Miranda House and Secretary of the Democratic Teachers’ Front, said DU's infrastructure already struggles to accommodate existing students. She pointed to examination halls functioning in extreme heat with a single fan, and faculty members on temporary contracts supervising research without additional support. She criticized the grading framework, which penalizes students whose dissertations do not result in publication or a patent. "They are creating a dropout culture among some of the finest brains in the country," she said.
The programme's implementation has highlighted tensions between policy goals and ground realities, with access and equity remaining key issues.
