Delhi University Faces Backlash Over Psychology Syllabus Overhaul

As per reports, the committee proposed replacing them with chronicles from Indian epics like the Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita, citing an “overrepresentation of Western ideas” and a need for “Indian ways of thinking.”

Delhi University (DU) is embroiled in controversy following significant changes to its undergraduate Psychology of Peace elective syllabus, approved during a contentious Standing Committee on Academic Matters meeting on May 2, 2025.

The revisions, led by committee chair Professor Shri Prakash Singh, have sparked outrage among faculty and students, who accuse the administration of undermining academic rigor and imposing ideological biases.

The most contentious change involves the removal of case studies on the Kashmir issue and Israel-Palestine conflict from Unit 4 of the Psychology of Peace course. These studies were critical for analyzing conflict resolution and the psychological impacts of oppression. Professor Singh reportedly dismissed their relevance, claiming “Kashmir is resolved” and questioning the need to teach about Israel-Palestine. Instead, the committee proposed replacing them with chronicles from Indian epics like the Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita, citing an “overrepresentation of Western ideas” and a need for “Indian ways of thinking.”

Further fueling the debate, the committee excluded Minority Stress Theory, a framework for understanding marginalized groups’ psychological challenges, and scrapped content on workplace diversity. A proposed elective paper, Relationship Science, exploring digital dating and mental health issues tied to dating apps, was also rejected, with Singh arguing it was unnecessary to “teach about dating apps to young people.”

Faculty members, including Associate Professor Monami Sinha from Kamala Nehru College, have decried the changes as “unilateral” and detrimental to addressing contemporary issues like youth mental health and discrimination. Sinha emphasized the importance of retaining globally relevant topics to equip students for real-world psychological challenges. The controversy has drawn comparisons to “syllabus saffronisation,” with critics on X platforms alleging an ideological shift toward nationalist narratives.

In response, DU has formed a panel to rework the syllabus, but no timeline or draft has been shared. Neither Singh nor psychology department head Urmi Nanda Biswas have commented publicly. As debates over academic autonomy intensify, the issue underscores broader tensions in aligning Indian higher education with global standards while adhering to the National Education Policy’s focus on cultural roots.

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