By Professor KP Singh

On 8th October 2026, as Professor Yogesh Singh begins his second term as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Delhi, history repeats itself in the annals of one of the India’s premier universities. With this second term, Professor Singh becomes only the second Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University to receive a second term, after Sir Maurice Gwyer, who served the University for the longest tenure as VC from 1938 to 1950. The story of the University of Delhi, established on 1 May 1922, is itself a fascinating journey of institution-building. During its formative decades, the University was nurtured and shaped by distinguished academic and legal minds, including Dr. Hari Singh Gaur (1922–1926), Dr. Moti Sagar (1926–1930), Dr. Abdul Rehman (1930–1934), Dr. Ram Kishore (1934–1938) and Sir Maurice Gwyer (1938–1950). Their contributions laid the foundations of an institution that has eventually emerged as one of the most influential centres of higher education in India.

The reappointment of Professor Yogesh Singh assumes special significance. Professor Yogesh Singh joined as the 23rd Vice-Chancellor of the University of Delhi on 7 October 2021, at a crucial moment when the University was preparing to celebrate its Centenary in 2022. His tenure, therefore, coincided with one of the most historic milestones in the University’s journey. He also emerged as the University’s first Vice-Chancellor with a strong technological and engineering orientation bringing a distinctive perspective to the academic and administrative leadership of the institution.

Writing this column on his re-joining as Vice-Chancellor for a second term gives me immense pleasure and satisfaction.

My association with the University of Delhi since 1995 as a student, teacher, teacher-activist and academic administrator has enabled me to observe the University’s academic affairs and transformation from close quarters. More importantly, I have been having the privilege of working as part of Professor Singh’s team in different capacities as Director, Gandhi Bhawan; Provost, PG Men’s Hostel; Head, Department of Library and Information Science; and Coordinator, Centenary Celebrations of the University of Delhi (1922–2022).

People, Places and Programmes: The Real Measure of Institutional Growth
The growth of any Higher Education Institution can ultimately be assessed through its horizontal as well as vertical expansion—appointments, promotions, creation of new positions, new Faculties, Departments and Centres, establishment of colleges, introduction of new academic programmes and, above all, creation of modern infrastructure. Among all, the appointments, promotions and infrastructure development remain perhaps the most challenging tasks particularly in the Delhi University which is very large, diverse and intellectually vibrant as University.

Delhi University is not merely an institution, rather it is a national academic laboratory where educational ideas, policies and reforms often encounter their first major institutional test. Its extraordinary diversity of students, teachers, disciplines and intellectual traditions makes every reform both challenging and consequential.

I strongly believe that “People may not always be interested in your process but they are ultimately interested in your product. And excellent products become milestones that create history.” In my assessment, this philosophy aptly describes the first tenure of Professor Yogesh Singh. During his five-year tenure, covering approximately 1,825 days, the University witnessed a remarkable phase of academic expansion, administrative activity and infrastructure development. The historic Vice-Regal Lodge, popularly known as the White House of the University, became the centre of this transformation. Built in 1902, this magnificent heritage building had served as the residence of Viceroys of British India before becoming an integral part of Delhi University, thus, forms the strong institutional history.

16,000 Families: More Than Numbers
One of the most significant achievements of the first tenure has been the large-scale recruitment and promotion of faculty and non-teaching staff, marking a major step towards strengthening the academic and administrative ecosystem of the University.

Approximately 5581 teaching and non-teaching positions were filled, including 4,554 Assistant Professors and 40 Principals across various colleges. At the University level, the appointments included 294 Assistant Professors, 162 Associate Professors and 52 Professors. In addition, 479 non-academic positions, including Group-A officers, were filled, thereby strengthening the University’s administrative framework. Equally significant has been the unprecedented scale of promotions across teaching and non-teaching cadres. A total of 12,213 promotions were made at the level of colleges and University, including the elevation of 127 teachers to the position of Senior Professor.

A University Expanding Its Academic Wings
Professor Singh’s first tenure, I see as an institution whose academic and infrastructural wings have expanded significantly. The establishment of the Faculty of Technology, new Centres devoted to areas such as Hindu Studies, Tribal Studies, Independence and Partition Studies, and Buddhist Studies, the Institute of Nano Medical Sciences, Veer Savarkar College (Najafgarh), East Campus (Surajmal Vihar) West Campus (Dwarka) and the Delhi School of Analytics reflects an attempt to respond to emerging areas of knowledge and national priorities.
The creation of state-of-the-art buildings for the Faculty of Technology, Delhi University Computer Centre (DUCC), University School, WHS Health Centre, Prerna Bhawan (DUSU office), Extension of Conference Centre, two new hostels, FMS and DSE new building block including the redevelopment of auditorium namely Sir Shankar Lal Hall, Tagore Hall, ACBR and Vandey Mataram demonstrates the scale and diversity of this developmental journey

New Programmes for the Viksit Bharat @2047
In order to achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047, the University introduced a range of new programmes, including the five-year integrated BA LL.B. (Hons.) and BBA LL.B. (Hons.) programmes; the four-year Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP); B.Tech programmes in Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, and Electrical Engineering; M.A. and Ph.D. programmes in Hindu Studies; B.A. (Hons.) Russian; M.A. Chinese; M.A. Korean; M.Sc. Respiratory Therapy; M.Sc. Psychiatric Mental Health; M.A. Public Health; MBA Business Analytics; MDS Orthodontics; M.Ch. (Neurosurgery); MD Psychiatry, and several other contemporary programmes. Further, perhaps one of the most significant dimensions of this tenure has been the successful implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 & opening and offering a wide ranges of courses based on Indian knowledge system on value added courses (VAC). 

Making DU from a National Institution to a Global University
Another significant achievement has been the University’s improving position in global rankings. Delhi University moved from a ranking around 550 to 328, reflecting the University’s increasing global visibility and its efforts towards strengthening academic reputation, research, internationalisation and institutional performance.

Delhi University stands at an important crossroads. The next phase is intended to focus on strengthening research, improving teaching-learning outcomes, enhancing international collaborations, nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship, expanding industry-academia partnerships, strengthening student support systems, promoting interdisciplinary research and ensuring that the University’s historic legacy remains aligned with the aspirations of a young students. Thus, undoubtedly Professor Yogesh Singh has already left his imprint on the growth and development of Delhi University.

His second term now provides an opportunity to convert milestones into a legacy and institutional achievements into a lasting pattern of excellence.