Questions on “feminist perspective on the state”, “the country’s forest policy” and “Sarva Siksha Abhiyan” have left third-year students of political science at Delhi University colleges flummoxed. Many complaining that these were not part of the syllabus.
Students who had opted for ‘Public Policy in India’, an optional paper offered in the fifth semester, have filed a complaint to the university over the issue.
WHAT WENT WRONG
The exam was held on Saturday and students had to answer four out of eight questions. Of these, three questions — ‘Discuss the forest policy of India. What are the challenges facing the policy today?’ and ‘Discuss the feminist perspective on state’ and a short note question on “Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan” have caused discomfiture. Moreover, the Hindi translation of the question on feminist perspective was also incorrect, students said.
The exam was for 75 marks and each of the four questions for 18.5 marks. Other questions included analysing the economic liberalisation policy in India since 1991, the model of policy decision-making, etc. Students were also asked to write short notes on the Social Movement, Marxist Theory and Nehruvian vision of public policy.
COLLEGES FILE COMPLAINT
The complaint has first raised by students of Daulat Ram College and Ramjas College. Students of Ramjas College have also written to their college department head, Tanvir Aiejaz, to mark them leniently or they will be “at loss”.
Suranjita Ray, the teacher-in-charge at Daulat Ram College, has already written to the university’s political science head, Navnita C Behera, asking her to look into the matter.
After a question paper is prepared, it is sent for moderation. It is then printed, sealed and sent to the examination department. The question papers are prepared by a three-teacher board. A senior teacher of the department is entrusted with the responsibility of moderation.
