In a progressive move to promote higher education among single girl children, Delhi University (DU) is considering allocating one seat in each postgraduate (PG) program exclusively for single girl children starting from the 2025–2026 academic year. This proposal will be debated during the Academic Council meeting on Friday, December 27, 2024.

Delhi University already offers a similar reservation for undergraduate (UG) admissions, a policy introduced in the 2023–24 academic session. Under this initiative, 764 students from 69 colleges were admitted during the first year of its implementation.

This move aims to enhance opportunities for single girl children and foster gender equality in higher education. The success of the undergraduate quota system has inspired DU to expand the policy to postgraduate programs.

Details of the Proposed PG Reservation:

Scope of the Proposal

• If approved, the new reservation will apply to all 77 PG programs offered by DU.
• Each program will reserve one seat for eligible single girl children.

Admissions Process

• PG admissions at DU are conducted through the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) and the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS).
• Last year, over 90,000 candidates competed for 13,500 PG seats, highlighting the fierce competition.

Objective of the Initiative

Officials explained that the initiative aims to:

• Provide additional educational opportunities to single girl children.
• Encourage more girls to pursue advanced education.
• Promote social and gender equity in higher education.

Existing Reservation Systems at DU

In addition to the single girl child reservation, DU has a comprehensive seat reservation system for other categories, including:

• Sports: Seats for outstanding athletes.
• Persons with Disabilities (PwD): Reserved seats to ensure inclusivity.
• Children and Widows of Armed Forces Personnel: Aimed at honoring the sacrifices of military families.
• Orphaned Children: Seats reserved for children without parental support.

The undergraduate reservation for single girl children has already shown promising results:

• 71,000 seats were allocated under the quota system, covering 69 colleges and departments in DU.
• The initiative has received positive feedback, as it provides financial and academic support to girls, enabling them to access quality education.

The addition of a single girl child reservation in postgraduate programs aligns with Delhi University’s broader mission of supporting girls in higher education. By offering dedicated opportunities, DU aims to:

• Reduce barriers to advanced education for single girl children.
• Empower women to take on leadership roles in academia and beyond.
• Contribute to India’s efforts in achieving gender parity in education.