UGC hardens stand, asks DU not to conduct admission under FYUP

Hardening its stand, UGC today asked Delhi University and its colleges to admit students only under the three-year programme from the new academic session and not under four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) implemented by it last year, a move hailed by both teachers' and students' bodies.
With admission to the undergraduate programme beginning on Tuesday, UGC asked DU and all its 64 colleges to comply with its order or face "consequence" such as freezing of grants.
"Under no circumstances shall the University of Delhi or any of the colleges under it admit students to the FYUP for academic year 2014-15," the UGC said in a statement.

"Any deviation from this directive either by the University of Delhi or any of the colleges under it shall be deemed to be in contravention of the UGC Act, 1956 with its consequences," it warned.
The move put a lid on the month-long agitation by students' and teachers' bodies demanding scrapping of the programme.
An executive committee member of Delhi University Teachers Association Vijaya Venkataraman welcomed the UGC move.

She said DU was "flouting" all norms and conduct of the programme and the Vice-Chancellor remained adamant, therefore, UGC's decision is welcome.
Delhi University Students Union President Aman Awana also hailed the decision and said they would take out a victory rally tomorrow. They would also meet HRD Minister Smriti Irani to congratulate her.

The UGC direction for the new academic session came a day after the Delhi University struck a defiant note, rejecting the Commission's directive to scrap the controversial FYUP.
The UGC said it would be ensured that students, who were admitted in 2013-14 in FYUP when it was introduced, are able to migrate to the three-year programme.