India, June 26 -- A steep rise in fees across several Certificate, Diploma, Postgraduate (PG), and Research programmes at Delhi University (DU) has sparked concern among students and faculty, with reports indicating a decline in admissions in multiple departments. According to recent findings, fees for certain courses have increased by as much as 425 per cent over the past few years, significantly altering access to programmes that were once considered relatively affordable. The increase has particularly affected short-term academic programmes and specialised higher education courses. Teachers and student groups have argued that the revised fee structure may disproportionately impact students from economically weaker backgrounds, limiting access to higher education opportunities. They contend that affordability has historically been one of the factors attracting students to certificate and diploma programmes, and a sudden increase risks reducing participation. Also Read - Three workers die after inhaling toxic gas inside septic tank at outer Delhi factory Data cited in the report also points to a fall in application numbers and enrolments in select PG and research courses. In some departments, seats reportedly remain vacant despite earlier trends of strong demand and competition for admission. Education experts have highlighted the need to strike a balance between institutional requirements and inclusive access. They argue that while universities face increasing administrative, academic and infrastructure-related costs, fee revisions should be implemented in a manner that does not create barriers for prospective students. Responding to concerns, DU administration has maintained that the updated fee structure was introduced after considering operational and academic needs. However, the issue continues to generate debate within academic circles and among student organisations.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.