Delhi University Students Protest Last Minute Change in Evaluation Process

New Delhi: Students at Delhi University (DU) are protesting last-minute changes to the exam schedule and assessment method that have sparked chaos and left undergraduate students confused and frustrated.

The university's Department of English had initially told students that their examinations would conclude on May 27 with a practical-based assessment. However, the method of evaluation was changed from the original format to a written exam that is now scheduled for June 21, 2025.

In April, the English department had released a notice stating that evaluation of the Research Methodology, a discipline specific elective, would be based exclusively on a 1,500-word research proposal and a 2,500-word research paper, with no end-semester written examination. 

The students and faculty invested weeks in preparing and completing this demanding academic work. However, on May 24, just days before the conclusion of assessments, students received an email announcing a 90-mark offline exam.

Administrative failure

“We have been working arduously on our papers with our supervisor for the past few months. How can they throw us under the bus just like that? This is really unfair,” said Isha*, a sixth-semester undergraduate student of English from Miranda house.

With the final semester ending in May, students are also concerned about their accommodation as their rental contracts and hostel tenures are also set to end soon.

“What about those planning to pursue further studies? The administration continues to evade responsibility for the confusion and disruption caused by this entire situation,” Riya*, a final year student asked.

A foreign student from Dhaka, told The Wire on the condition of anonymity that Bangladeshi students have been concerned since last year about the ongoing tensions and conflict between India and Bangladesh. 

“India has stopped issuing visas to Bangladeshis due to safety concerns and a variety of other reasons after the fall of the previous government. Student visas are also taking longer to obtain as compared to the past,” she said.

She said that a round-trip from Delhi to Dhaka costs around Rs 18,000 and staying in a hotel room costs Rs 4,000–5,000 per night. “As a woman, coming here alone without my parents may pose safety risks, especially since they will not be granted a visa due to the ongoing issues,” she explained.

Other foreign students at Delhi University — from Kazakhstan, Tibet, Nepal, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Russia, Mongolia and Korea — studying in various colleges, are expected to face similar challenges.

Gross mismanagement and no accountability

Students have alleged that Anjana Sharma, the Head of English Department, Delhi University has eluded responsibility and blamed the faculty instead. The decision to make the last minute alteration in the final semester examination raises serious questions about the administration of the university.

A professor, on the condition of anonymity, told The Wire that it is highly irresponsible on the part of the university to allow a department to make this mistake regardless of the reasons behind it. 

“Once the error is identified, there appears to be no mechanism in place to address the issue or to hold a meeting with stakeholders. As a result, students are left feeling lost and confused — and are even blamed for protesting,” the professor said, fearing administrative action if her name was revealed.

Members of All India Students Association (AISA) along with Student Federation of India (SFI) have been sitting outside Sharma’s office and that of the dean of student welfare, protesting this decision. 

A student delegation also met Sharma but the students’ demand of reinstating the previous evaluation structure was not met. The students have now written a letter to the dean of student welfare and the dean of academic affairs proposing alternatives to the examination.

“Our professor told us that the Head of Department (HOD) called a meeting and commented on how ‘violently’ we protested. In reality, she didn’t even allow us to speak and we’ve always kept our protests peaceful,” a student told The Wire on the condition of anonymity.

Other concerns

A new evaluation scheme proposed by students was tentatively accepted, which involved allocating 50 marks for a written proposal and research paper, and 40 marks for a written examination. 

Email from Anjana Sharma, the Head of English Department, Delhi University. Photo: By arrangement.

This framework was proposed by the students with the understanding that internal faculty would assess the submissions, taking into consideration the limited preparation time, students’ mental well-being and the sensitive nature of many research topics.

However, during a recent departmental meeting, Sharma reportedly announced that the papers would be sent for external evaluation – an uncommon practice for undergraduate-level practical submissions. 

This move has sparked concern among students as many papers explore potentially controversial issues such as academic freedom at DU, the experiences of Muslim students and the LGBTQ community among other things.

The Wire has written to the head of the department of Delhi University to clarify on what led to the last minute changes in the method of assessment. This story will be updated when we receive a response. 

*Names were changed on request after the piece was published.

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