Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Delhi University Waives 28-Credit Rule for 2025-26 Batch
Delhi University usually requires students to earn at least 28 of 44 credits in their first year to move to the next year.
The university has made a one-time exception for students in the 2025-26 batch.
Those students will not be stopped from moving ahead just because they earned fewer than 28 credits.
The exception applies only to that batch, and other promotion rules still apply.
The university says the decision was approved through its university process and is under its undergraduate curriculum framework.
Some teachers have asked why the rule changed and why it changed after students had started their third semester.
The university’s notice does not explain the specific reason for the exception.
A separate change will give some fourth-year study tracks more credits from 2026-27.
Delhi University has granted students in its 2025-26 undergraduate batch a one-time exemption from earning 28 of 44 credits to qualify for promotion after their first year.
The exemption does not apply to later batches, and other provisions in the university’s earlier promotion notifications remain in force.
The university says the measure follows resolutions of its Academic Council and Executive Council and approval by the competent authority, under the NEP-based UGCF 2022 framework.
Teachers questioned the reason for the exemption and its timing, noting students had entered the third semester; the notification does not explain the circumstances behind the decision.
Separately, from 2026-27, credits for fourth-year dissertation, academic project and entrepreneurship tracks will rise from six to 10.
- Who
- University of Delhi undergraduate students in the 2025-26 batch; teachers from the Delhi University Teachers’ Federation raised concerns.
- What
- A one-time exemption from the requirement to earn 28 of 44 credits for promotion after the first year.
- When
- The exemption applies to the 2025-26 academic batch. The separate fourth-year credit change begins in 2026-27.
- Where
- University of Delhi, Delhi.
- Why
- The university cites its curriculum framework and university council resolutions, but its notification does not state the specific circumstances behind the exemption.
University’s stated basis
Teachers’ concerns
Reason for the exemption
University’s stated basis
The university says the one-time measure follows Academic Council and Executive Council resolutions and competent-authority approval under UGCF 2022.
Teachers’ concerns
Teachers said the notice did not explain what circumstances, hardships or systemic failures required an exemption.
Timing and consistency
University’s stated basis
The exemption is limited to the 2025-26 batch, and the university says other promotion provisions remain unchanged.
Teachers’ concerns
Teachers questioned changing the criteria after students had entered the third semester, raising concerns about transparency and stability.
NEP implementation
University’s stated basis
The university frames its decision within implementation of the NEP-based undergraduate framework.
Teachers’ concerns
A teachers’ federation representative alleged that the change reflected problems handling the increased number of papers and inadequate preparation; the articles provide no university response to those allegations.
- Affected students
- Undergraduates in the 2025-26 academic batch who have completed one year of study
- Requirement waived
- Earning 28 of 44 credits for promotion after the first year
- Scope
- One-time exemption; later batches are not covered
- Other promotion provisions
- Provisions in the earlier notifications remain unchanged
- University framework
- NEP-based Undergraduate Curriculum Framework 2022
- Earlier rule timeline
- The 28-credit criterion was notified in July 2025, with its applicability shifted in September 2025 to students admitted from 2025-26
- Teachers’ concerns
- Teachers questioned the rationale, transparency and timing of changing the criteria after students had entered the third semester
- Fourth-year credits
- From 2026-27, dissertation, academic project and entrepreneurship tracks will receive 10 credits, up from six
