A recent trend noticed in the admission pattern of undergraduate courses in Delhi University must draw immediate attention of the policymakers. The statistics is pregnant with wide spectrum of possibilities hidden inside it. According to the sources, this year around 940 students have got admitted in Delhi University undergraduate courses with a perfect 100 percent marks in their best four subjects. As a matter of fact, this number had jumped up from 150 odd in 2016 to 450 plus last year in 2019 itself but had gone unnoticed. What must surprise us is that out of the increase of 300 registered in 2019 about 205 were contributed only from Kerala Board. What should catch our attention further is that such applicants belonging to the Kerala Board and having perfect score of 100% in best four subjects, had exploded from mere 3 in 2016 to 208 in 2019. Similar figures for CBSE board were 145 in 2016 and 160 in 2019. These numbers increased this year for CBSE too, but it can be attributed to the generous marking that happened due to Covid-19 online exam-evaluation (in 2020). The numbers increased from 160 in 2019 to 650 in 2020 for CBSE and for Kerala Board it increased from 208 to 290. But the explosion of numbers that happened for Kerala Board from 3 in 2016 to 208 in 2019 itself for reasons yet to be known must be analyzed and investigated without further delay.
These students from Kerala Board have chosen various social science courses in elite colleges of Delhi University. For example, out of 10 students under UR category admitted for the Sociology (Hons) course in one of the best Campus College this year, a whopping 8 seats now belong to the Kerala Board. In English (Hons) course for the same institution, 11 candidates out of total 23 have got admitted under UR from the Kerala Board background. In Political Science (Hons) course, such candidates have occupied a mind-boggling 31 out of 37 who were admitted in the first cut off under UR category. What must not go unnoticed is that out of these 31 students almost all have got 100% in their best four subjects. In fact, the college had announced a 99.5% cut-off for unreserved category, but they had to admit 37 under this category against their sanctioned seats of only 20. The data rightly indicates that students belonging to the Kerala Board are flooding the most sought courses in all the elite colleges disregarding the number of sanctioned seats because no college can deny these students admission into their first choice of course. In another college considered to be the best for Geography (Hons), has four students with perfect 100% but 3 out of these belong to Kerala Board. In yet another college of North Campus specialized in commerce and economics, although these numbers appear to be less but even these are highest scoring applicants from Kerala Board. The situation was heavily imbalanced in favor of Kerala Board last year since the CBSE board were not able to match their figures then.
For those who are not familiar with the admission procedure that is operational in DU colleges for undergraduate courses -> Colleges of Delhi University are expected to announce college specific cut-offs for admissions and once announced, they are obliged to admit all who satisfy the announced cut-off criteria. No student having best four score more than the announced cu-off can be denied admissions. Having a score of 100% in best four subjects is equivalent to having three aces in the game of cards. Students having hundred percent marks in class XII are sure of admission in any Delhi University College and into any subject of their choice. They can’t be denied admission on any ground. Surprisingly these students who come from Kerala and find it difficult to communicate comfortably either in Hindi or English, for some reasons have started choosing Delhi for their education after 2017-18. Ironically, Kerala - a state, that otherwise boasts itself of their excellent education infrastructure is showing such an abnormal exodus of their ‘most meritorious’ students. It must be ascertained by the policymakers, if these are innocent choices and are not part of a hidden strategy or campaign. Are the obvious shortcomings of the outdated admission process of Delhi University, based on cut off is being exploited by some strategists who are working on a plan? The fear is not entirely unfounded as one can notice that overwhelming majority of these Kerala Board students come with 100% in their best four subjects and their number decreases drastically for students having lesser best four.
One must not forget that Delhi has witnessed riots early this year in which ‘radical elements’ operating in Jamia and JNU have been found to be actively involved. A well-known and zealous lot of left-wing girls’ group that is very active in Delhi University has also been found to be involved in the same. A Kerala based rich-radical group, PFI, has also recently become very active in Delhi and have been funding all these activities. These forces must be looking for a space in Delhi University to settle itself. Delhi University and its authorities need to take up this issue seriously before this place also starts providing an environment for the students to grow as 'nation-indifferent' individuals. For obvious reasons, such forces must have realized that 'radicalization' of Jamia was easier because they neither follow any strict merit criteria nor any reservation policy in admissions. On the other hand, JNU used to follow innovative techniques to promote and facilitate admission to their ‘ideologically favoured’ candidates. Despite keeping other things under their control, 'radical' elements have failed to replicate their success in Delhi University because the admission procedure in DU has remained mechanical and transparent till now under the criteria based on cut offs. Left politics is known to use all kinds of manipulations to achieve their aim of occupying the ideological space in the campuses of premier Universities in India. In 2016, students of one single school of a south Indian state occupied majority of seats in SRCC (Sri Ram College of Commerce). And that probably showed the ‘radical’ elements a way to occupy the students’ space in DU.
For the past several years left politics have failed to impress the students of DU and recently they have witnessed worrying signs of decline in their popularity. In some students’ union elections they could get less than even the NOTA votes. These statistics must also alert the policymakers as the rare possibility of scoring perfect hundred in class XII examinations that was unimaginable a couple of years ago is becoming worryingly common now. Let Delhi University learn the lesson fast and adopt the recommendation of the New National Education Policy 2020 to implement entrance examination for undergraduate courses from the next year. This would be enough to spoil any game plan of the forces, trying to occupy the ideological space in DU using their new-found marks-manipulation strategy.
