Forget entrance tests, let teachers and scholars talk it out for Ph.D. and M.Phil admissions, says DU

Amid opposition to its move to select Ph.D. and M.Phil candidates solely on the basis of an interview, Delhi University today said that it would just be an interaction to bring all students to the same platform. Until last year, the varsity gave 85 percent weightage to the written test and 15 percent to the interview. "It will be better to call it an interaction, where a student and the faculty will talk about each other's requirements," Maharaj K Pandit, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Admissions, said.
    

The university had yesterday announced that Ph.D. aspirants with a fellowship from UGC/CSIR/NET or a central government institute need not take the entrance exam, and those who do not have it will have to. However, they are all required to appear for the interview. "Students who do not have a fellowship will take the entrance exam and then everyone will be on the same platform when they appear for viva voce," Pandit added.
    

Viva voce interaction will not leave any scope for discrimination; the reservation policy will be followed strictly, he said. Meanwhile, a section of students condemned the varsity's move to 'make the written examination a mere qualifier'."It is a move which was ratified neither in the academic council nor in executive council of the university," Vikas Bhadauria, President of the Delhi Unit of the Students Federation of India, said in a statement. It will affect a number of students from marginalised sections, he added.