Delhi University cut-offs in 2020 bust a few myths

The 100 per cent cut-offs in three subjects in Lady Sriram College of Delhi University this year busts a few myths. One thing that emerges from this year's list is that the subject most in demand in 2020 is Political Science. Last year Hindu College had the highest cut-off in the subject at 99 per cent.

But if LSR has it at 100 per cent, Hindu is at 99.5 per cent and Miranda House is at 97 per cent. Even Dyal Singh (Evening) has a cut off at 97 per cent for Political Science.

Of course this is the first cut-off and by the time of the fifth list, this may come down much further but many colleges don't have a fifth list.

The choice of Political Science as the most preferred subject is surprising as normally Economics, History and English were the most 'posh' and in demand subjects.

Talking about this, Dr. Bulbul Dhar James, Senior Professor at Jamia Milia Islamia’s Political Science Department said that Political Science had always been a popular choice even at Jamia. "You normally don't get to hear much about the cut-offs in Jamia because we have a very fair and balanced entrance exams to select the students."

As far as Political Science is concerned she said, "I guess it's popular as it's easy, but more than that, it helps for the UPSC exams," she says.

Yet another myth that the 2020 cut-offs seem to have busted is that the annual ranking of colleges by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIFR) working with the Ministry of Human Resource Development does not matter for the students.

This year the NIRF had put Miranda House as the best college in the country, followed by LSR, Hindu College and St. Stephen’s College in that order.

But LSR has a higher cut-off that Miranda in almost every subject in Humanities, Commerce and Economics. It does not offer sciences, which means that the first choice of the girls has been LSR in DU, as the college has a reputation which does not fluctuate with annual rankings.

Interestingly, this year LSR beats its traditional rival, the prestigious Sri Ram College of Commerce in cut-offs where the cut-off for Economics is at 99 per cent and even Hindu beats SRCC this year where the cut off in Economics stands at 99.5.

There is a feeling among people that the CBSE board has been more liberal with its marking this year in view of the pandemic because students had to prepare online for their exams and obviously the results have been delayed.

But this is going to pose a huge problem during admissions because a total of 3.36 lakh students have applied for the 62,000 available seats. This is 37 per cent higher than last year which means more disappointments and more counselling sessions.