Delhi University tightens promotion criteria for undergraduates to 63%

The Delhi University (DU) has raised its promotion criteria for undergraduate (UG) students from 50% to 63%, requiring students to achieve a combined total of 63% in their first and second semesters to advance to the next year. This change applies to all DU colleges. Students involved in sports, extracurricular activities, NCC, NSS, and similar areas may be exempt from this criteria, subject to approval from their college’s competent authority.

A university official explained that this adjustment addresses shortcomings in the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) Undergraduate Curriculum Framework (UGCF) 2022 at DU. Under the previous rules, students needed to clear 50% of their exams in the first and second semesters combined, requiring them to pass seven papers and obtain a total of 22 credits to be promoted.

A committee member who helped formulate the new guidelines revealed that under the NEP-UGCF 2022, students could be promoted by passing just three papers from both semesters and one general elective with only a 36% score, as not all papers carry the same credits. This anomaly was seen as hindering students’ academic growth and undermining the goals of NEP 2020, prompting a review of the passing and promotion rules.

The committee recommended that students should now complete 50% of the academic requirements to be eligible for promotion. Additionally, students must earn at least 28 credits, up from the previous 22, to advance to the next year.

This step aims to ensure a more robust academic foundation for students and align with the objectives of the NEP 2020, fostering better academic growth and reducing inconsistencies in the curriculum framework’s implementation.