Protests against Delhi University's Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP)

The Delhi University has said it will begin admitting students soon on a three-year format and not the controversial Four Year Undergraduate Programme or FYUP, which had propelled fierce protests by students and teachers.For days, the university had held out against repeated orders to cancel the unpopular four-year programme it introduced last year despite objections.The standoff forced around 60 colleges in Delhi to put admissions on hold, leaving nearly three lakh students stranded.After many unheeded directives, the University Grants Commission or UGC - the central funding agency that coordinates college education policies - told the university last evening that its directive was "clear and unambiguous", that the four-year course was a violation of the National Education Policy.The Delhi University today wrote to the UGC that it was "in the process of drafting a response in accordance with the spirit of your directives to ensure that the admission process starts very soon."After the Delhi University's reported surrender, Education Minister Smriti Irani spoke on the controversy for the first time. "I respect the autonomy of institutions but autonomous institutions were created to serve people. My Appeal is, within the ambit of law, this is the time for statesmanship which will lead to resolution. One shouldn't sacrifice the interest of our students at the altar of prestige," she said.The university had yesterday suggested a plan to retain the four-year programme with tweaks. It proposed a three-year system by reducing foundation courses that students have to take in the first two years, and an optional fourth year for research.But the UGC ruled it out and said it wanted a complete rollback of FYUP.Many teachers and students say the move to the four-year pattern was rash and failed to factor in the university's lack of resources.

They said the current schooling system in India (the 10+2 scheme) allows students to enter college primed to choose a specific subject or discipline.The UGC is working on a plan to shift 60,000 students admitted last year under the four-year programme to the three-year format.