DUTA urges President Murmu to halt FYUP implementation, citing lack of infrastructure, faculty, and planning. 2,000 teachers back petition.
As the new academic session approaches, anxiety is mounting among the teaching community at Delhi University. With the fourth year of the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) set to roll out from August 1, members of the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) have formally raised their voices in opposition. In a petition endorsed by nearly 2,000 faculty members, DUTA has approached President Droupadi Murmu, who also serves as the university’s Visitor, to urgently intervene in what they describe as a deeply flawed and poorly supported implementation of FYUP under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
At the heart of their concern is the lack of infrastructure, insufficient faculty strength, and inadequate planning. Speaking at a press conference, DUTA President Prof. A.K. Bhagi didn’t mince words. “The fourth year under NEP 2020 is not just unfeasible — it’s a disaster waiting to happen,” he said. “We’re dealing with increased student intake without the additional manpower or financial resources required to support it. How can we maintain quality education under such circumstances?”
According to DUTA, classrooms and laboratories are already overcrowded, faculty members are overworked, and the academic calendar is increasingly delayed. The implementation of a fourth academic year, they argue, without addressing these fundamental issues, risks collapsing the very foundation of public higher education.
The association has also demanded the withdrawal of the Draft University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations, 2025, stating that such changes are being rushed through without waiting for the Pay Review Committee (PRC) report or consultations with key stakeholders. They assert that these regulations must be aligned with the upcoming 8th Pay Commission and discussed thoroughly with the teaching community before implementation.
Prof. Bhagi further emphasized that financial aid must not come at the expense of academic independence. He urged the government to provide special grants to colleges so they can upgrade essential infrastructure, such as classroom space, libraries, labs, and hostel facilities, which are currently inadequate for accommodating a four-year undergraduate structure.
DUTA Secretary Dr. Anil Kumar added that the draft UGC regulations in their current form are untenable and would only exacerbate the existing challenges. Echoing this concern, DUTA Treasurer Dr. Akanksha Khurana warned that hasty implementation without clear feedback mechanisms or resource planning could destabilize the public university system and move it further away from the goals of the NEP.
DUTA has also raised objections to the integration of online courses such as SWAYAM and MOOCs into the curriculum, arguing that these platforms, while useful in some contexts, cannot substitute classroom teaching or be relied upon for earning academic credits. They warn that such policies will dilute academic standards, reduce student-teacher interaction, and undermine the essence of holistic education.
Beyond FYUP, the teachers’ body renewed its long-standing demands for:
- Restoration of MPhil and PhD increments
- Recognition of past ad-hoc service for promotions
- Removal of arbitrary caps on senior academic posts
- Timely processing of promotions, ideally within two months
DUTA Vice President Dr. Sudhanshu Kumar stressed the need for equity in service conditions across various academic roles, and called for immediate recruitment drives to fill vacant faculty positions, many of which are pending due to the ambiguous “Not Found Suitable” clause in hiring assessments.
Renowned academic and former DUTA president Prof. Aditya Narayan Misra underlined that the association is not opposed to the concept of a four-year degree, but is firmly against implementing it without adequate preparation. “You’ve halved teaching hours, doubled student strength, and cut down on practical sessions. Tell us — how is this improving education?” he questioned.
He concluded with a strong warning: “If our voices continue to be ignored, we’ll have no choice but to take to the streets.”
While Delhi University Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh has described the FYUP as a “game-changer” aimed at encouraging research, entrepreneurship, and skill development, DUTA insists that true reform must be grounded in academic freedom, resource readiness, and teacher welfare — not in top-down mandates.
With just weeks left before the rollout, the clash between ambition and ground reality is growing sharper, and all eyes are now on the Union Education Ministry and the President’s response.
Over 2,000 faculty petition President Murmu, citing poor planning, overcrowded classes, and academic decline.
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