‘Manusmriti Will Not Be Taught’, Says DU After Inclusion In Sanskrit Course Syllabus

Last Updated:June 12, 2025, 14:02 IST

DU has dropped Manusmriti from its curriculum. The Manusmriti was included as one of the main texts for a four-credit DSC course called ‘Dharmashastra Studies’.

The University of Delhi has decided not to teach the Manusmriti, says Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh. The Sanskrit Department’s ‘Dharamshastra Studies’ course, where Manusmriti was previously listed as recommended reading, has now been deleted entirely. The university clarified that the text will not be taught in any of its courses going forward.

“University of Delhi will not teach Manusmriti text in any course of the University. ‘Dharamshastra Studies’, the DSC of the Sanskrit Department, where Manusmriti is mentioned as a “recommended reading” stands deleted,” the university said in a post on X.

The Manusmriti was included as one of the main texts for a four-credit Discipline-Specific Core (DSC) course called ‘Dharmashastra Studies’. This course was approved by the Sanskrit department under the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework based on the National Education Policy (NEP). The syllabus also included texts like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas, and Arthashastra.

According to the course objective, “Ancient Indian society, both as a whole and in its various parts, is described in Sanskrit texts known as Dharmashastra. The ‘Dharmashastra Studies’ course aims to familiarise students with the rich traditions of Indian social, political, economic, and legal thought.”

This isn’t the first time Manusmriti has led to controversy at Delhi University. In July last year, the university dropped a proposal to include the text in the undergraduate History (Honours) syllabus after facing strong objections. At that time, university officials said they would not allow content that could cause social divisions.

The text has faced widespread criticism for its caste and gender-based rules. Many students and academics accused the university of trying to promote outdated and discriminatory ideas.

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The reappearance of Manusmriti in the Sanskrit department’s syllabus led to fresh criticism, with many demanding closer checks on how courses are designed. The vice-chancellor’s latest decision shows that the university is standing by its earlier position to keep such content out of the curriculum.

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