DU Scheduled Meet With Official Over CUET Exams

DU will submit a proposal for a Rs 1000 crores loan from HEFA

Taking notes from initiating the CUET (Common University Entrance Test), the Delhi University's executive council is scheduled to meet on Friday to discuss a host of issues, including an Rs1, 000 crore loan from HEFA and admissions solely based on the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) scores.

The university's academic council, in its meeting held on Monday, approved that admissions to the varsity be held solely based on CUET scores and that a candidate is only required to have cleared class 12. Under the DU's guidelines, a candidate must appear in CUET in only those subjects in which they have cleared Class 12.

Talking about more specifications about the CUET, if the subject studied in class 12 is not mentioned in CUET, candidates will have to appear in a subject that is similar or closely related to the subject they have studied in class 12.

The guidelines also say, "Merit will be calculated based on a combination of subjects in which a candidate has appeared in CUET as mentioned in the programe-specific eligibility." The approved rules also state that admission to minority colleges like St Stephen's, and Jesus and Mary will also be done through CUET.

During counselling, separate merit lists will be generated for unreserved and minority candidates as per the reservation policy for these colleges. This will come up for discussion in the Executive Council meeting on Friday. The EC is the highest decision-making body of the university and once approved there, a policy is implemented.

The guidelines also talk about a proposal on the loan from Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) will also come up for discussion in the meeting. The university is planning to submit a proposal of Rs1, 075.40 crores to HEFA for infrastructure development and the creation of capital assets.

According to the HEFA funding pattern, the university will have to repay the loan in 20 half-yearly instalments in 10 years. The university said it has been receiving a very limited allocation for the creation of capital assets for the last three to five years and has been unable to purchase laboratory equipment. It also cited the condition of buildings that are in a dilapidated state. The Education Ministry has already said that major infrastructure projects will be funded through HEFA only and no funds will be released as budgetary support.