In an apparent bid to bolster equity in higher education, Delhi University announced to extend the single girl child (SGC) quota for postgraduate programmes, starting from the 2025-26 academic year. For some single girl children, the quota is an opportunity that they would otherwise be denied.
Shalini (name changed on request), a beneficiary of the reservation, regards the quota as a relief to the financial burden of her education and believes it will create a level playing field too. “Thanks to this quota, I am the first girl among my cousins to leave her home town for higher education. It relieves my family from the stress of my education becoming a financial burden,” she says.
What's The Reservation About?
The policy was first introduced for undergraduate programmes in 2023-24 and reserves one supernumerary seat in each postgraduate course for a woman student who is the only girl child in her family.
“We wanted to introduce it for PG programmes last year but since admissions were at a very advanced stage, we could not. So, we have extended that provision to all our courses, including BTech, CLAT and PG, this year,” says Haneet Gandhi, Dean of Admissions, Delhi University.
The benefit which now extends to all 77 PG programmes at Delhi University was conducted through CUET-PG, a common university entrance test, followed by the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS). “This reservation has made a huge difference in my academic journey. Getting into Delhi University in the first round is such a relief. Not having to go through rounds and rounds of counselling for institutes relieved me from a lot of procedural stresses,” says Aheli Sen, a student enrolled in MSc in mathematics at the North Campus.
“Being an only child, all your parents' hopes and dreams lie with you. And my admission did ease up the pressure for me,” she added.
The Critics
The quota, in place for undergraduate programmes for three academic sessions, was challenged in the Delhi High Court by six students after St. Stephen’s College placed the admission of 22 students on hold, terming them as “extra allocations”.
The college said that admitting a student under the quota was in violation of the right to equality before law.
Senior advocate Romy Chako, the counsel for the college, submitted that the quota was also ultra vires Article 30 of the Constitution of India, which establishes the rights of minorities to set up and administer educational institutions.
“The quota is baseless and does not solve any problem. It caters to the affluent sections of society without regarding the economically weaker segments. When someone hears the phrase ‘single girl-child reservation,’ no one wants to go beyond and enquire further,” says Chako.
He emphasised that economic criteria should be taken into account for this quota. “At present, it seems to have been implemented without any research. It can also be a policy of the government and is being pushed for vote-bank politics,” he added.
The Administration’s Stance
According to Delhi University’s administration, the quota facilitates an environment that values the contribution of women, allowing them to advance their education without barriers.
“It’s for all layers of society without any non-creamy and creamy layer distinction. We haven’t added a financial criterion to the reservation since we have not analysed the demographic profile of families with a single girl child. Perhaps when we get more data, we will start thinking about it,” says dean admissions Gandhi.
Gandhi highlighted why financial background did not matter—it was more important to have a sense of responsibility towards empowering women. Some very well-to-do families may or may not encourage girl children, she pointed out, adding, “The aim is to push a social message to encourage the education of families with single girl children.”
The Beneficiaries’ Perspective
Shalini believes that such a policy is an imperative in a patriarchal society. “Where people still pray for a boy’s birth in the family, such a policy can empower them to become the parents of a girl child. They will not be seen as a burden to the family or something to be shaken off. They can build their own life, not depend on anyone,” she says.
Aheli calls the reservation a much needed step, and considers herself fortunate to have been raised by parents who gave her every opportunity, regardless of her gender. But, she acknowledges, a lot of girls are not as lucky as she. “Being a KVian (schooled in a Kendriya Vidyalaya), I have seen how much reservations help girls, even at the primary education level. It’s high time we got those opportunities in higher education,” she says.
