Sisodia writes to Irani, calls for entrance test in DU

New Delhi: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday urged HRD Minister Smriti Irani to introduce an entrance test for admission to undergraduate courses in all colleges affiliated to Delhi University to ensure that only meritorious students get in. He also sought extra weightage for Delhi students in admissions. "In my view, there should be a separate test for admissions in Delhi university. This will ensure that students from all areas get equal opportunity of admission," Sisodia said in a letter to Irani. Sisodia, who is also holding the education portfolio, said that due to anomalies in the admission process of Delhi university which is based on cut-offs, lakhs of Delhi students are suffering as applicants from state boards get more marks than them. "Recently the scams behind Gujarat and Bihar toppers have also come to light and because of such practices students in Delhi are suffering," he said. He suggested that an entrance test should replace the cut-off method for enrolment of students in Delhi University. He said the Delhi government is giving Rs 300 crore annually for 28 Delhi colleges run by it. "So at least in these colleges, Delhi students should get weightage of five marks from the current session to ensure no injustice is done to city students," he said. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Vijay Goel has also demanded an eligibility test for admission to undergraduate courses in colleges affiliated to Delhi University. A delegation led by Goel had also met Sisodia last month in this regard.