Delhi University (DU) set to lose its last tech college

Delhi University (DU) risks losing the only engineering college in its domain. After Delhi College of Engineering (DCE), the state government is now considering the upgrade of Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology (NSIT) in Dwarka into a university.

Sources in the directorate of higher education said the government is currently working on a draft bill to upgrade NSIT — an autonomous institution run by the Delhi government and affiliated to DU — to a state university of technical education.

To avoid the resentment and dissent generated when DCE was upgraded into a university, the government is treading cautiously and consulting all the stakeholders before the bill is drafted.

Delhi University vice- chancellor Dinesh Singh, however, said he is not aware of any such plans. “ I haven’t heard anything on this,” he said . However, Anand Prakash, principal secretary of the directorate of training and technical education, confirmed that efforts are on to upgrade NSIT into a university. “ We are in the preliminary stages of the proposal.

We are trying to find the most non– controversial way to upgrade NSIT. We do not want a situation similar to that of DCE,” Prakash said.

DCE was upgraded to Delhi Technological University (DTU) in 2009 after a bill was passed in the state legislative assembly. But students were unhappy with the decision as they felt disassociating from DU could dilute the reputation of the college and affect its brand name.

They staged a protest on March 4 last year where about 500 students took part. Following the demonstration, two students were expelled by the varsity on grounds of indiscipline. Subsequent protests and mass boycott of classes led to a loss of academic days and rescheduling of the semester exams.

Sources hope things would not go the same way with NSIT as it has been seeking the status of a deemed university for nearly a decade now. Formerly known as the Delhi Institute of Technology (DIT), NSIT had its campus at Kashmere Gate till 1997.

The NSIT and DCE shared a common admission procedure and syllabi till the latter was changed into a university. NSIT, like DCE, is among the most sought- after engineering colleges in the country. Sources said the proposal to upgrade NSIT into a university will be placed before the governing body of the college for approval. It will then be sent to the state government.

“ There is no set deadline for the job. It is part of the government’s plan to make Delhi a higher education hub. That’s why it is trying to create a technical university on the lines of foreign universities,” a source in the directorate of training and technical education, said.