DTF seeks revised evaluation guidelines for DU's fourth-year UG research programme

New Delhi, Nov 6 (PTI) The Democratic Teachers' Front (DTF) has urged Delhi University to issue revised evaluation guidelines for its fourth-year undergraduate research programme, alleging that students and teachers are awaiting clarity on the assessment scheme despite an increase in credits from six to 10.

    In a letter to Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh dated November 6, the teachers' body said the university had increased the credits assigned to the Dissertation/Academic Project/Entrepreneurship track from six to 10 through a notification issued on July 10, but was yet to announce a corresponding revision in the evaluation scheme.

    The notification, effective from the 2026-27 academic session, provides for 10 credits each in the seventh and eighth semesters, taking the total credits for the academic track to 20. It also revises the course structure for fourth-year students under the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework (UGCF), 2022.

    The DTF pointed out that the existing evaluation notifications for the seventh and eighth semesters, issued on September 30, 2025, and January 8, 2026, were based on a maximum of 240 marks for six credits.

    It said the revised research component would now carry 400 marks for 10 credits, making updated assessment guidelines necessary.

    Prior information on the evaluation scheme is extremely important for students and teachers, as it creates an overview, the letter said, urging the university to issue revised guidelines for both semesters on an urgent basis.

    The teachers' body also sought the incorporation of feedback from students and teachers into the revised guidelines, saying an increase in credits should not translate into unrealistic academic expectations.

    It said the number of credits or marks assigned could not be used to justify expectations such as Scopus-indexed publications, books, book chapters, patents or presentations at recognised national and international conferences.

    The length of academic engagement, depth and quality of research and the possibility of publications should also be taken into account, it added.

    Abha Dev Habib, DTF secretary and an associate professor at Miranda House, criticised the university administration over the delay, alleging that the lack of updated guidelines had left another batch of fourth-year students in uncertainty.

    She also questioned the administration's accountability, alleging that delays in decisions affecting thousands of students were not being addressed adequately.

    The letter was signed by members of the university's Academic Council, Executive Council and Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) executive.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)