Speculations of long-awaited Delhi University holding the entrance exam for undergraduate courses may get over soon. Delhi University statutory board is planning to hold entrance exams for the commerce and arts courses by this session years. The board plans to launch a prototype by holding exams for a couple of courses and later on adding up more courses. Currently, Delhi University holds entrance examination only for professional and postgraduate courses; admissions to undergraduate courses are solely done on the basis of 12th board examinations.
The cutoffs have been skyrocketing from last few years now and it is even difficult for colleges to have the best options available. For some of the colleges, the cut-offs were as high as 98 percent. Such cutoffs are difficult to beat for the students coming from different boards like ICSE and state boards as the boards do not have a common pattern and standards of examination. Entrance examination would make the system more adaptive and in reach of the students who come from the boards who have a different kind of marking structure.
Vicky Kumar, a DCAC student suggested that entrance examination would be of great benefit for students coming from states like Uttar Pradesh board, Bihar board as the marking level is quite different as offered by CBSE. Anushree Agarwal, a graduate from LSR suggested entrance might stretch the process of admissions but would surely give equal opportunities to the candidates. She also suggested it's not good for an education system of a country where a particular examination holds so much importance. This would open up the opportunities for candidates.
The major task for University would be to hold the same level of transparency in admissions as it has been able to maintain over the years. There have been some cases of fake admissions through ECA and Sports quota, but by centralising them last year, Board was able to get over the radar and the new system is well planned.
Although the statutory board set up by the University is quite confident and seems to be very prepared for the process. In a conversation, convener suggested that they have given up the proposal to the board and have also collaborated with CBSE for the smooth flow of the entrance examination.
It would be interesting to see what kind entrance examination pattern would the University follow, as it has a large number of colleges and students have admitted on basis of different quota system also.
