Students' organisation Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS) on Friday, 17 July submitted a memorandum to Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh, demanding a substantial increase in the number of seats available in one-year postgraduate programmes. The move comes amid mounting pressure from over 31,000 students who completed the four-year undergraduate course and are now unable to secure admission to one-year master's programmes due to a severe shortage of seats.

The Seat Shortage Crisis

Bhim Kumar, a representative of the KYS Delhi unit, said the university currently offers only around 1,100 seats for one-year postgraduate courses spread across 46 departments. He described this as wholly inadequate given the scale of demand. According to reports cited by the organisation, more than 31,000 students across various Delhi University colleges are eligible to pursue the one-year master's route.

'Students opted for the fourth year in UG, thinking that they would seamlessly progress onto enrolling in one-year master's courses. This huge number of students makes it incumbent upon the University to immediately sanction more seats per course for one-year master's courses,' Kumar said.

The NEP 2020 Promise at Stake

Delhi University was among the first higher education institutions in India to introduce the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) across all courses, in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The NEP had explicitly envisaged a one-year master's pathway for students completing the four-year undergraduate degree. The KYS argues that the current seat crunch amounts to a betrayal of that promise.

'The measure of starting four-year undergraduate courses was in line with the National Education Policy 2020, which promised one-year master's courses to the four-year undergraduates. Now, however, this promise is being betrayed, and students' dreams are being shattered,' the organisation said in its memorandum.

Why Options Elsewhere Are Limited

The KYS also pointed out that Delhi University is among a select few universities in India that have rolled out the one-year postgraduate programme, making it nearly impossible for the large pool of eligible students to seek admission to equivalent courses at other institutions. This effectively leaves tens of thousands of students with few viable alternatives if DU does not expand its seat capacity.

What the Organisation Is Demanding

The KYS delegation met the Dean, Students' Welfare, and formally handed over the memorandum. The organisation has called for an immediate and substantial increase in one-year postgraduate seats across all departments. Bhim Kumar warned that if the demand is not accepted, the organisation will be compelled to escalate its protest. The memorandum has been addressed directly to Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh, who has not yet issued a public response.

With admissions cycles underway and thousands of students in limbo, the pressure on the university administration to act is set to intensify in the coming weeks.