Delhi University Defends Routine Fee Hikes Amid Student Debt Concerns

Delhi University downplays recent fee hikes, calling them routine. The increase affects several undergraduate and postgraduate courses, with substantial hikes in PhD programs. Critics argue these hikes are to repay loans from the Higher Education Financing Agency, pointing towards commercialization of education.

Delhi University (DU) officials on Friday downplayed the recent fee hikes for various undergraduate and postgraduate courses, stating the increases are routine and manageable for students. "This is a routine increase of the fee. Every year we raise the fee by 5-6 per cent. It is not a big issue. For the B.Tech programme, we are giving fee waivers to students whose parents' income comes under certain categories," an official told ANI.

The university plans to increase fees for several courses, including B.Tech, Law, and certain PhD programmes, in the upcoming session. The new arrangement will see first-year B.Tech students facing a 3.7 per cent hike, with fees rising from Rs 2.16 lakh to Rs 2.24 lakh.

The five-year integrated law program will experience a 5 per cent increase, raising fees from Rs 1.90 lakh to Rs 1.99 lakh. PhD courses will face the most substantial increase of 60.2 per cent, taking fees from Rs 4,450 to Rs 7,130. This move has been criticised by faculty and Executive Council members, claiming the fee hikes are aimed at repaying loans from the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA).

"Continuous enhancement of the fee structure of various programmes is strongly condemnable. One of the reasons students opt for DU is its fee structure. But in the past two years, DU has started introducing courses with high fee structures and even increased them. When the central government should solely be responsible for education and health, the present government is reducing its budget allocation for education and directing universities to opt for self-financing courses. This constitutes the commercialization and privatisation of university education," stated Aman Kumar, a member of the Executive Council. Fees for some courses for foreign students have also been increased, though many international students will benefit from discounted fees for DU's MA Hindu Studies programme. Additionally, Tibetan applicants will be exempt from registration and additional fees.

(With inputs from agencies.)