Manish Sisodia writes to Smriti Irani, calls for entrance test in DU

Batting for giving “priority” to Delhi students in admissions to Delhi University, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia has written to HRD minister Smriti Irani, suggesting an entrance test and seeking extra weightage for city students in government-funded colleges.

“There are many optio-ns, but the sum total is that Delhi students should get priority in admissions at the colleges funded by Delhi government,” said Mr Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio.

He said the Delhi government is concerned with accommodating about 1-1.25 lakh students in higher and technical education institutions who pass out of Class 12 every year.

“Due to anomalies in admission process of DU, which is based on cut-offs, lakhs of Delhi students are suffering as applicants from state boards have more marks than them. Recently, the scams behind Gujarat and Bihar toppers have also come to light and because of such practices students here are suffering,” he said in his letter to Ms Irani. “We are not concerned whether there should be reservation for Delhi students at DU colleges, but the question before us is how to accommodate 1-1.25 lakh students who pass Class 12 exams in Delhi every year in higher and technical education institutions here,” he said.

Each year, around 2.5 lakh students pass Class 12 exams, of whom half are accommodated in higher and technical education institutions here, but the rest have to seek admissions outside Delhi or explore other options.

“The Delhi government gives hundreds of crores to DU every year and if students of Delhi get priority there, the government will be able to utilise its resources in a better way. There are other options like we stop funding DU colleges and open new colleges for Delhi students. Another option co-uld be to give rebate to Delhi students in cut-off marks of say 5 per cent. DU and other institutions were not ready for these options despite several efforts for the same,” he added.