With the last few years witnessing dozens of engineering colleges mushrooming in the NCR region, Delhi university colleges are increasingly seeing a marked decline in the number of students opting for its Science courses.

Students are opting for engineering colleges over Science courses that need years of studies before throwing up employment opportunities.

The trend is noticeable in the first cut-off list released by DU where, barring the North Campus colleges, other colleges show a decrease in cut-off percentages.

In Shivaji College, cut-offs for Physics and Chemistry have seen a decline of 8 percent. In Moti Lal Nehru College, cut-offs for both subjects have gone down by 5 per cent.

Dr J M Khurana, professor in the Department of Chemistry, says that with fewer students showing interest in pure science courses, the scope for research is hampered in the university. “It is a common misconception that an engineering degree will ensure better jobs more easily,” he says.

Sri Venkateswara College too has decreased its cut-offs. Admission Convener Nirmal Kumar says the trend might continue as long as the government does not provide better incentives for research scholars. “Researchers work for years to get a minimal scholarship,”he says.

Over the last three years, DU has been purchasing equipment for upgrading its laboratories but the effort doesn’t seem to be enough. Given the situation, a further dip in cut-off is expected when the second list comes out on June 30.