The decision of Delhi University to select M.Phil & Ph.D. aspirants solely through viva-voce received a serious opposition from the students. However, the University of Delhi clarified that viva voce is just an interaction to bring all the students together on the same platform. Until 2016, the varsity gave 85% weightage to written test and 15% weightage to interview. Chairperson of Standing Committee on Admission, Mr. Maharaj Pandir indicated that the students could term the interview as an interaction where faculty and students talk about each other’s requirements.
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According to the official announcement of the varsity, Ph.D. aspirants with a fellowship from NET/ CSIR/ UGC need not appear for the entrance examination. Other candidates must appear and qualify in the written examination to seek admission to Ph.D. and M.Phil courses. The candidates with fellowship and others must attend the interview. The varsity follows reservation policy strictly during the seat allotment process. Viva voce interaction will not give any scope for discrimination.
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On the other hand, few students of the varsity condemned DU’s decision to make the written examination a mere qualifier. Students claimed that neither the Executive Council nor Academic Council of the varsity ratified the varsity’s decision. They also indicated that students from the marginalised sections will become the ultimate sufferers due to the varsity’s decision. Some students sought the varsity to rollback the decision. However, the varsity decided to go ahead with the decision of making viva voce the sole criterion for selecting the candidates for M.Phil & Ph.D. courses.