Sat Dec 06 05:57:24 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a news article based on it:
Summary:
Delhi University has finalized controversial guidelines for financial assistance to faculty attending conferences. The guidelines require faculty to submit papers for review, which some teachers are calling academic censorship. Grants are primarily limited to conferences at highly ranked universities, sparking concern about excluding worthwhile opportunities at other institutions. The Academic Council meeting also addressed PhD coursework requirements and disciplinary issues, including the suspension of a student union officer for assaulting a faculty member. Other concerns included overlap in the December datesheet.
News Article:
Delhi University Faculty Cry Foul Over New Conference Funding Guidelines, Allege “Academic Censorship”
New Delhi – December 6, 2025 – Delhi University (DU) has approved new guidelines for faculty members seeking financial assistance to attend national and international conferences. The move has been met with sharp criticism from some members of the Academic Council (AC), who allege the guidelines amount to “academic censorship.”
Under the new rules, faculty members must submit copies of their conference papers for review before receiving funding. Critics argue this process allows the university to pre-approve content, potentially stifling academic freedom.
“If they don’t agree on the topics that we are presenting papers on, they might not let us go ahead,” said Monami Sinha, a professor at Miranda House and AC member. “What they are doing amounts to academic censorship.”
Another point of contention is the focus on ranking. The new guidelines prioritize funding for conferences hosted by universities ranked in the top 500 globally by QS World University Rankings or Times Higher Education Rankings, or in the top 100 of the National Institutional Ranking Framework. This has raised concerns about excluding valuable opportunities at less prestigious, but still worthwhile, institutions.
“The guidelines allow grants only to highly ranked universities,” said Ms. Sinha. “Does this mean that a State university, which is growing, does not have the same standing?”
The university maintains the guidelines are designed to “streamline the process of applying for financial assistance” and ensure the quality of conferences supported. A committee will review the “standard of the conference and the quality of the paper proposed to be presented” for universities that don’t have a high ranking but have a “good reputation” and are recognized by an independent entity.
The AC meeting also addressed PhD coursework, standardizing requirements at 12 to 16 credits. Disciplinary actions were also discussed, including the recent suspension of a student union officer who physically assaulted a faculty member. Issues with the December datesheet, including overlapping classes and exams, were also raised.
The controversy surrounding the new funding guidelines highlights the ongoing debate regarding academic freedom and the role of universities in regulating faculty research and travel.
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