DU Admissions: BCom (Hons) remains the front-runner, while Zoology enters the top three most sought-after UG courses.

NEW DELHI: The most sought-after courses at the University of Delhi have undergone an unexpected reshuffling for the 2025 admissions cycle. While BCom (Hons) still leads with 48,336 first-preference bids in the first round, attention is being drawn by the sudden spike in BSc (Hons) Zoology.

The course rose to third rank with 12,722 top-priority candidates, pushing aside the otherwise favorite English (Hons). The second spot was taken by Political Science (Hons) with 15,295 applications.

The three most popular courses decipherings last year were BCom (H), BA (H) English, and BA (H) Political Science; Zoology (H) did not even make it to the top five. However, this year marks a significant shift for the subject.

The pandemic has caused a shift in the perception of how many people view life science.

Increasing numbers of students are being attracted to the biological sciences because they want to engage with the world in more substantial and tangible ways, as well as out of academic interest. According to Professor Rita Singh, head of the DU Zoology Department, the rising interest is not coincidental.

"Zoology is more in demand with students than ever before for several good reasons."

"Whether it's drug development, toxicology, or biodiversity, zoology gives us a wholeness of understanding of life," she said. Zoology is the basis for understanding conceptual clarity, important for what is in the environment as a pollutant, such as endocrine disruptors, and understanding receptors' function. This underlying knowledge provides the discipline with a great advantage.

She also talked about how the COVID-19 pandemic shifted the way the living sciences were viewed by students. "Students learned during the pandemic that the discipline that understands immunity, vaccination, genetics, and PCR is rooted in zoology. Individuals who wish to start small biotech or diagnostic companies are now interested in this subject. It lends itself to practical experience, interdisciplinary robustness, and an entry into research, healthcare, and industry."

Singh further added that an increasing number of students are getting attracted to the subject due to its inclusion in the new National Education Policy, especially the fourth-year research scheme.

"Biodiversity in animals is no longer the sole emphasis. Students are being taught how zoology can act as a bridge between all of these fields, from physiology's interface with environmental science and allied courses like biotechnology and medicine." It offers a truly multidisciplinary future.

A broader generational change is indicated in the increased popularity of zoology. Students today perceive education in terms of practical application and significance. Numerous students view the subject as a launchpad for all manner of careers, from sustainable enterprise to science research and conservation of wildlife.

"Books made me interested in biology and animals, and this was further ignited by YouTube videos on the environment. Those who emerge with a voice for the voiceless and specialize in the conservation of nature and animals have always inspired me. The hands-on fieldwork appeals to me most because it aligns with my perception that work should be meaningful and fulfilling."

There are many ways of doing good for the environment, but the best one is one that provides happiness and meaning, says Shreya Singh, a final-year student of BSc (Hons) in Zoology.

Experts believe that this movement has its source in both passion and pragmatic aspiration. The applied aspect of the subject was stressed by Dr. Sanjiv Mullick of Dyal Singh College's zoology department.

"Economic zoology, which encompasses fisheries, sericulture, and apiculture, is one of the most applied branches of zoology. These are a good option to begin your own business. Many students today want to start their businesses in the fields of silk and honeybee cultivation or fishery science," he said.