DU M.Phil and Ph.D. Aspirants Go on Hunger Strike

15 students went on a hunger strike at the Delhi University Arts Faculty on 1st August 2018 due to the 2016 UGC regulation. The regulation was implemented by DU in 2017 and was made into an ordinance, according to which it is mandatory for students to score 50 per cent marks in the varsity's entrance test to qualify for the M.Phil and Ph.D interviews.

The decision of the university outraged many students and led to further confusion. Students like Mohammad Asim managed to score 88 marks out of 196 in the DU entrance exam for M.Phil in History. His ranking in the Other Backward Class is 17 but to qualify for the interview he required 98 marks. The new rule made it mandatory for students to score 50% marks to be eligible.

Also Read: Delhi University Postpones M.Phil and Ph.D. Admission Interviews

Students thought of taking the matter into their hands and decided to sit on a hunger strike after trying every possible way to let their voices be heard. According to Asim, it is not just that the reserved category students are facing the problem but due to this rule, many general categories students have also not qualified for the interview. This will be a huge setback for their career and they will end up wasting one more year as most of them have not even applied anywhere else apart from DU.

However, DU officials have not provided the students with any schedule for the next interviews round nor have taken any initiative to help the students. According to the sources, the decision to postpone the next interview round has been done by MHRD.

Also Read: UGC Likely to Initiate Action against Delhi University Colleges without Principals

The university is planning to consider providing 5% relaxation to reserved category students. But the students are of the view that 5% relaxation will not be of any help as there are many departments in the university where there are no general category students.