DU introduces new courses in history and hands-on skill development

As Delhi University gears up to begin its undergraduate session on Aug 1, the institution’s Academic Council has approved a series of academic reforms, including new history and skill-based courses, along with policy changes aimed at improving academic flexibility.

One of the key additions is a new General Elective course titled “Sikh Martyrdom in Indian History (c. 1500–1765).”

Introduced by the Centre for Independence and Partition Studies (CIPS), the course will examine major events in Sikh history during the Mughal period.

Topics will include the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev and Guru Tegh Bahadur, the contributions of Guru Gobind Singh, and the resistance movements led by Sikh warriors.

Carrying four academic credits, the course is open to students across all undergraduate streams.

Field visits and engagement with documentary sources will supplement classroom lectures. The move is seen as part of a broader effort to incorporate regionally grounded histories into mainstream academic discourse.

Vice Chancellor Professor Yogesh Singh, who chaired the Academic Council meeting, said the course aims to “give students a clear view of Sikh history and its place in the larger Indian context.”

In addition to the history elective, the council has approved new Skill Enhancement Courses (SECs) aimed at students looking for vocational and applied learning options.

One such course is in Radio Jockeying, which will focus on voice modulation, hosting live shows, and handling studio equipment.

Other SECs cleared by the council include Vacuum Technology, Eco-Printing on Textile, and Medical Diagnostics, offering hands-on exposure to students across disciplines.

Delhi University is also preparing to roll out the fourth year of undergraduate education starting in the 2025–26 academic session.

Students in the final year will have the option to pursue a dissertation, academic research project, or entrepreneurship-based track. Notably, faculty members supervising these projects will not be required to hold a PhD.

In a student-supportive measure, the university has granted a two-year extension to students who were admitted during the 2016–17 academic year to complete their degrees.

The extension comes in light of the university’s transition from the CBCS to the UGCF curriculum model, which caused academic disruptions for some students.