New Delhi, 14 August 2026: The University of Delhi (DU) has omitted a specialised postgraduate paper on the Delhi Sultanate from the newly notified Semester III History syllabus, according to reporting on the revised course list. The change forms part of the university's adoption of the Postgraduate Common Framework (PGCF) 2024 under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and the final notification was issued on 7 August 2026, with the revised programme effective from July 2026.
What has changed
The paper titled "The Delhi Sultanate: Structures of Authority in Medieval North India (13th–14th Centuries)", previously offered in Semester III as a focused thematic study of the medieval state, political authority and associated cultural developments, is not included in the final notified list. Other postgraduate papers that have been omitted from Semester III include "History of North India, c. 1400–1550", "Gender and Women in Early India: 1500 BCE to 1000 CE", "Political Processes and Structure of Polities in Ancient India" and "Religion and Society in Ancient Indian Literature", according to the report.
DU's History Department had initially proposed 38 Discipline Specific Elective (DSE) papers for Semester III; however, the final notification lists only 16 DSEs. That leaves 22 proposed papers outside the final notified syllabus. Several of the proposed courses are recorded as either "Under Discussion" or "Undiscussed" in university records, the report said.
Context and implications
The removed Delhi Sultanate paper had been taught for several decades at the postgraduate level and provided a concentrated examination of power structures, state formation and related political, religious and cultural changes in 13th–14th century North India. The change has drawn attention because the postgraduate paper offered a more specialised and thematically rigorous study than the broader undergraduate survey that includes Delhi Sultanate topics.
A History professor cited in the report emphasised the distinction between the undergraduate and postgraduate offerings, noting the undergraduate course is intended as a broad survey while the earlier postgraduate paper was a specialist thematic study. The omission therefore reduces the availability of a concentrated scholarly option on the Delhi Sultanate at the master's level within DU's current notified programme.
The revision is part of DU's implementation of the PGCF 2024 framework under NEP 2020. The PGCF seeks to reframe postgraduate programmes across disciplines; the university's final syllabus notification for History was issued on 7 August 2026, and the revised structure is effective from July 2026.
Guidance for students and faculty
- Students: Postgraduate History students should check the official DU notification and departmental communications for the amended list of Semester III papers and for information on elective availability and registration.
- Faculty: Departments that proposed papers listed as "Under Discussion" should follow up with faculty affairs and the university's curriculum committees for clarifications on inclusion and possible future revision cycles.
- Where to check: The University of Delhi's official website (https://www.du.ac.in) carries notifications and circulars; students and teachers should rely on the university's circulars for definitive details.
| Item | Number |
|---|---|
| DSE papers proposed | 38 |
| DSE papers included in final notification | 16 |
| Papers omitted | 22 |
The university's move will affect course choices, research supervision options and specialised teaching modules in the History programme. Students aiming for specialised studies in medieval India and related themes should consult their departments about alternate papers, independent study options, or supervisor-led reading courses where available. Departments may also consider proposing reinstatement or revision of omitted papers in subsequent curriculum review cycles.
The revised programme is presented as part of the larger national shift under NEP 2020; how individual departments balance breadth and depth within the new framework will be watched closely by scholars and students across the country.
Note: Students and faculty seeking the authoritative record should refer to the University of Delhi's official notification of 7 August 2026 available on the DU website: https://www.du.ac.in.
