Delhi University (DU) has notified a revised postgraduate History syllabus in which a long-running paper on the Delhi Sultanate has been omitted, along with several other courses covering ancient, medieval and modern Indian history.
The paper, titled “The Delhi Sultanate: Structures of Authority in Medieval North India (13th–14th Centuries)”, was earlier taught in Semester III. It examined the formation of the Delhi Sultanate, systems of political authority and the social, religious and cultural developments of the 13th and 14th centuries.
According to records reviewed by The Indian Express, the paper does not appear in the final syllabus notification issued by DU on August 7, 2026. Several other established courses are also absent from the notified Semester III curriculum.
Other History Papers Omitted
Among the other courses missing from the revised syllabus are:
- 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
- Religion and Society in Ancient Indian Literature
These courses covered topics ranging from political developments and state formation to gender, religion, literature and social structures in different periods of Indian history.
Only 16 Of 38 Proposed Electives Notified
Records cited in the report indicate that the History Department had proposed 38 Discipline Specific Elective (DSE) papers, but only 16 were included in the Semester III syllabus notified on August 7.
DU officials said the courses were not simply “held back”. According to the university’s Dean of Academic Affairs, an Expert Committee was constituted to review papers that required further examination after changes were made to some syllabi during the approval process.
The committee included external experts, the History Department head and members of the Academic Council. The university said the review was intended to examine the proposed courses and ensure that the curriculum was appropriately structured.
Review Linked To Curriculum Restructuring
The syllabus revision comes as DU continues restructuring its academic programmes under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The university has been reviewing postgraduate curricula and introducing changes to course structures and elective offerings.
According to the report, some additional papers could be notified after the review process is completed. The latest changes have therefore drawn attention among students and faculty because several established areas of Indian history are currently absent from the newly notified Semester III syllabus.
The Delhi University History Department had also raised concerns about the delay in notifying the Semester III syllabus, noting that students need access to the official list of courses to make informed choices about their optional papers.
The development is likely to remain a subject of discussion among students, historians and faculty members as DU continues its ongoing postgraduate curriculum revision.
