Delhi University’s recently published provisional exam schedule for the upcoming semester has sparked a furious reaction from educators. They warn that the proposed dates could throw both teaching and examination processes into disarray. The official notice from the university’s examination department indicates that undergraduate semester exams will take place from December 10, 2025, to January 30, 2026. However, classes for the subsequent even semester are slated to commence on January 2, creating an unprecedented month-long overlap between exams and new academic instruction. This scheduling conflict is raising serious questions about feasibility and student welfare.
Teachers Voice Practical Concerns
Both the Delhi University Teachers’ Front (DTF) and various Academic Council members have expressed significant doubts regarding the practicality of managing concurrent teaching and examination schedules. Mithuraj Dhusiya, a DU Academic Council member, stated, “This overlap of regular classes and exams for a full month in January 2026 is extremely worrying.” He pointed out that while previous overlaps were blamed on a staggered academic calendar, this current situation lacks that justification. “How can students be expected to sit for exams and attend new classes simultaneously for an entire month?” Dhusiya critically asked.
He further challenged the feasibility of conducting offline classes during the examination period. “Do colleges even possess the necessary infrastructure to manage both exams and classes concurrently for such an extended duration? Despite DU’s official stance that regular courses are held offline, this schedule implicitly condones online classes during these overlaps,” Dhusiya elaborated.
Academic Integrity Under Threat
Abha Dev Habib, Secretary of the DTF and an Associate Professor at Miranda House, strongly criticized the schedule as “evidence of poor planning and a complete disregard for academic integrity.” She highlighted the immense burden: “Hundreds of thousands of students are expected to take exams while simultaneously attending classes for the next semester. Teachers are tasked with teaching, invigilating, and evaluating—all at once. With additional exams from SOL and NCWEB, there will be a severe shortage of physical space, inevitably pushing many colleges towards online instruction.” Habib advocated for extending the winter break until all major examinations are completed.
Echoing these concerns, Rudrashish Chakraborty, an elected member of the DUTA Executive, labeled the situation “a theatre of the absurd.” He remarked, “It’s clear we’re not operating within a proper university framework; it’s absolute chaos everywhere.” Chakraborty explained, “According to this provisional datesheet, the entire month of January will be consumed by end-semester examinations for the odd semester, encompassing regular, SOL, and NCWEB courses. Even if colleges opt for online classes, students will be too engrossed in their exams, effectively rendering a full month of teaching unproductive. Teachers, quite literally, would need to be four people at once to teach, invigilate, evaluate, and conduct practicals simultaneously.”
Urgent Calls for Schedule Revision
Educators are now urgently pressing Delhi University to rethink its proposed schedule. The goal is to avert significant disruptions and uphold the high standards of education. Experts caution that maintaining the current overlap risks undermining teaching quality, diminishing student learning, and causing delays in result declarations.
As the chorus of criticism intensifies, the university is under considerable pressure to revise its academic calendar. This revision is crucial to ensure both students and faculty can dedicate their full attention to examinations and classroom instruction without unnecessary and detrimental conflicts.