Delhi University Gives One-Time Relaxation in 28-Credit Promotion Rule

The University of Delhi (DU) has announced a one-time exemption from its 28-credit promotion requirement for undergraduate students admitted during the 2025-26 academic session. The decision applies to students who have completed their first year under the National Education Policy (NEP) Undergraduate Curriculum Framework (UGCF)-2022. Under the earlier rule, students were required to secure at least 28 credits out of the 44 credits available across the two semesters of an academic year to progress to the next year. The latest decision means students from the 2025-26 batch will not be denied promotion solely because they have obtained fewer than 28 credits.

What DU Has Decided

The decision has been communicated through a notification issued by the DU Examination Branch. It partially modifies the university's earlier notifications dated July 21st and September 2nd, 2025, concerning the passing and promotion criteria under UGCF-2022.

The exemption is specifically applicable to students admitted in the 2025-26 academic year. It does not remove the credit-based promotion system altogether or introduce a permanent change to the university's rules.

For example, a student who has completed the first year with 27 credits would ordinarily have fallen short of the earlier 28-credit requirement. Under the latest decision, that student will not be denied promotion solely because the credit tally is below 28.

Key Points for Students

Students covered by the notification should note the following:

• The relaxation applies only to the 2025-26 undergraduate batch

• Students who have completed their first year are covered by the exemption

• The requirement to obtain 28 credits out of 44 has been relaxed for this batch

• The decision is a one-time exemption, not a permanent change

• Other provisions of the earlier promotion notifications remain applicable

The university has clarified that the exemption should not be understood as a blanket relaxation of all academic or examination requirements. The notification specifically concerns the 28-credit condition for promotion, while other provisions continue to remain in force.

How the Rule Has Changed

DU introduced the credit requirement as part of its implementation of NEP UGCF-2022. The framework provided that students would need to acquire at least 28 credits to progress to the subsequent academic year.

The university subsequently shifted the applicability of the criterion to students admitted from the 2025-26 academic session. The latest notification now provides a one-time relaxation for that same batch after students have completed their first year.

The decision has also attracted questions from sections of the university's teaching community. Some faculty members have raised concerns about the timing of the notification because students had already moved into their third semester when the relaxation was announced. Questions have also been raised about the rationale and transparency behind the change.

What It Means for the 2025-26 Batch

For students affected by the decision, the immediate change is that they will not face denial of promotion solely for failing to reach the 28-credit threshold. This could provide relief to students who completed their first year with fewer than the prescribed number of credits.

However, students should continue to follow other academic requirements applicable to their programmes. The university has not announced a complete withdrawal of the credit-based system, and the exemption does not automatically extend to students admitted in later academic years.

EducationNewsNetwork brings this development into focus as part of its coverage of recent changes affecting students and universities. The decision is particularly relevant for the 2025-26 undergraduate batch, which is the only group specifically covered by the one-time relaxation.

Students Should Check Official Notifications

Students should read the university's latest notification carefully and contact their respective colleges if they require clarification about how the decision applies to their academic records.

The DU Examination Branch continues to publish notifications concerning examinations, promotion criteria and other academic matters through its official website.

For TopEducationNews, the decision is another significant update for Delhi University students as the institution continues to implement its NEP-aligned undergraduate framework.

The latest move provides immediate relief to the affected batch while keeping the broader promotion framework in place. Students should therefore distinguish between the one-time exemption and any permanent changes to DU's academic rules.