DU’s new MPhil entrance exam pattern upsets many

The murmurs are growing louder — not everyone is happy with the new entrance examination introduced by Delhi University for M Phil and Ph D candidates. It appears that the academicians are divided over the new format in which objective questions have replaced subjective questions, to be followed by an interview. Moreover, the students are a wary of the online form which will require a candidate to submit his research proposal.

In a series of meetings conducted from March 17 onwards by the 20-member Standing Committee of the Academic Council of Delhi University, it was decided that the M Phil entrance examination will eliminate subjective questions. The entrance preliminary step will now involve only objective questions. A student will be called in for the interview only if he clears the first step.

A student, on condition of anonymity, said that the new process has been introduced hastily. Some of them also complained that the common entrance form for M Phil and PhD has added to the confusion.

A candidate in Delhi University has to fill a form online along with a 500-word proposal for his M Phil research topic, whereas a PhD candidate has to submit the form with a 2,500-word research proposal. However, the word limit for M Phil candidates is not mandatory.

According to sources, the departmental heads of the courses of Delhi University were not consulted on this decision during the initial meetings. The Standing Committee — comprising 17 deans of various faculties in the university, two DU principals and an elected member of the Academic Council — took this decision. The HoDs were later informed about the decision by the end of March. However, several HoDs and Standing Committee members remain optimistic.

Standing Committee Chairman Professor J P Dubey said: “Some of the departments such as Social Work and History were finding it difficult to implement. But these issues can be taken care of once the students clear the exam”.

“Each and every department has been allowed to conduct M Phil and PhD entrance exam just the way they have been doing. Only the preliminary level has been changed. No department is being deprived of their rights,” he added.