Affidavit of Unemployment for DU FSS: Format, Steps & Tips

How to Create an Affidavit of Unemployment for DU Financial Support Scheme (FSS)

The Financial Support Scheme (FSS) of the University of Delhi is intended to assist students who face financial constraints and do not have an independent source of income. As part of the application process, eligible students are required to submit an Affidavit of Unemployment confirming their employment and income status.

This affidavit is not a routine declaration. It is a legally enforceable document submitted for official verification. Its purpose is to provide the University with a formal statement that the applicant is not earning and is financially dependent on a parent or guardian. Given its legal significance, the affidavit must be drafted carefully and in accordance with accepted legal standards.

Why DU Requires an Affidavit of Unemployment

The Financial Support Scheme is assessed primarily on financial need. To ensure that benefits are granted fairly and transparently, the University requires documentary confirmation of a student’s income status.

An affidavit serves this purpose by placing a sworn declaration on record. It establishes accountability and allows the University to rely on a legally valid statement during scrutiny and verification. Informal letters or self-attested declarations do not carry the same legal weight and are therefore not accepted.

Legal Meaning of an Affidavit of Unemployment

An Affidavit of Unemployment is a sworn statement made before a notary or other authorised authority. Through this document, the student formally declares that they are not engaged in any form of employment and do not earn income from any source.

For FSS purposes, the affidavit generally confirms that the student:

• is not engaged in full-time, part-time, contractual, temporary, or self-employment
• does not earn income from salary, business, profession, stipend, consultancy, or similar sources
• depends on a parent or guardian for educational and living expenses

Once notarised, the affidavit has legal validity. Any incorrect or misleading declaration may have consequences under applicable rules.

Who Is Required to Submit This Affidavit

The Affidavit of Unemployment is required from students who are unemployed and financially dependent on their family at the time of applying for FSS. This requirement applies uniformly to students enrolled in regular colleges, the School of Open Learning, and other affiliated institutions of the University.

Students who receive any form of income, even on a temporary or limited basis, are expected to disclose the same accurately. Non-disclosure or incorrect declarations may result in rejection of the application or withdrawal of benefits.

Essential Contents of the Affidavit

A valid Affidavit of Unemployment for DU FSS should clearly include:

• Full name of the student and parent or guardian’s name
• Age and complete residential address
• Confirmation of enrolment with the University of Delhi
• Clear declaration of unemployment
• Statement confirming no income from any source
• Declaration of financial dependency on parent or guardian
• Academic particulars, including course name, year, roll number, and control number
• Statement specifying submission for the Financial Support Scheme (FSS)
• Verification clause, place, date, and signature of the deponent

Omission of any of these elements may result in the affidavit being treated as incomplete.

Format and Execution of the Affidavit

Affidavits follow a recognised legal format. They begin with a heading indicating the purpose of the document, followed by an introductory paragraph identifying the deponent. The declarations are set out in numbered paragraphs to ensure clarity.

The affidavit concludes with a verification statement affirming the truthfulness of the contents. It must then be signed and duly notarised. Without notarisation, the affidavit does not have legal effect.

Common Errors That Cause Delays

Delays in processing FSS applications are often due to technical deficiencies in the affidavit, such as:

• use of informal or ambiguous language
• incomplete income or employment declarations
• discrepancies between academic details and University records
• missing verification clause or signature
• submission without notarisation

While procedural in nature, these issues can significantly affect processing timelines.

Offline and Online Preparation Options

Affidavits may be executed offline before a local notary, which remains legally valid. In recent years, online execution has also become common, provided legal requirements are met.

Digital preparation allows students to ensure correct formatting and complete notarisation through Aadhaar-based electronic signatures. This option is particularly useful when physical access to notary services is limited or when timelines are tight.

Assistance with Drafting and Compliance

Students unfamiliar with legal drafting often seek structured assistance to avoid procedural errors. Certain platforms facilitate affidavit preparation by focusing on accurate language, proper format, and compliance with applicable requirements, including support for digital notarisation.

Such assistance can help reduce the likelihood of affidavits being returned for correction during verification.

Final Verification Before Submission

Before submission, students should carefully review the affidavit to ensure that all personal and academic details are accurate and consistent with University records. Employment and income declarations should be unambiguous, and the document must be properly signed and notarised.

Retaining a copy of the executed affidavit for future reference is also advisable.

Conclusion

The Affidavit of Unemployment is a critical supporting document under the Financial Support Scheme of the University of Delhi. It serves as a formal and legally binding declaration of the student’s employment and income status and plays an important role in the evaluation of the application.

Students are advised to approach the preparation of this affidavit with due care. Proper drafting and execution help ensure compliance with University requirements and reduce the likelihood of delays during processing.