The two colleges have reverted from the centralised Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) process to the pre-CUET admission model by issuing application forms directly. Students have been invited to apply to the colleges, preparing their own merit lists based on Class 12 marks.
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The admissions will run simultaneously with the ongoing CUET-CSAS admission process and cut-off lists will be issued.
Applicants to Bhagini Nivedita College have been asked to download admission forms from its website and submit them physically by August 5. Aditi Mahavidyalaya invited direct applications, with registrations closing Monday and the merit list scheduled to be released the same day.
DU traditionally admits applicants based on Class 12 merit only when vacancies remain after all rounds of CSAS, including mop-up, are exhausted.
The relaxation was permitted to the two colleges last year only after all regular CSAS admission rounds had concluded and seats still remained vacant. However, the admissions this year have been opened whilst DU’s centralised CUET admission process is still underway.Read more: DU announces second round of PG seat allocations; over 8,000 admissions confirmed after first round
DU Registrar Vikas Gupta said the relaxation was permitted in view of the chronic vacancies in the two colleges.
“Both persistently struggled to fill their seats over the past few years. They are located in relatively far-flung areas and many students who initially take admission later withdraw, leading to substantial vacancies. The colleges approached DU seeking permission to admit students on the basis of Class 12 merit, and considering their unique circumstances, the university allowed it,” Gupta told TOI.
Gupta said that DU was not considering this as a policy shift
“No other college has approached us with a similar request. This shouldn’t be seen as a change in DU’s admission policy. UG admissions will continue to be conducted through CUET and CSAS,” he said.
According to DU’s vacancy assessment last year, Bhagini Nivedita College had 709 vacant seats out of its sanctioned strength of 985 whilst Aditi Mahavidyalaya with 600 seats vacant of nearly 1,000 seats. This highlighted that the two colleges have consistently recorded some of the highest vacancy rates since DU adopted CUET-based admissions.
Ruby Mishra, principal of Bhagini Nivedita College amongst others, said that the chronic vacancies were due to their location. According to Mishra, the college, located in Najafgarh, initially received about 600 applications for its 985 seats through CSAS, but after the university’s upgrade rounds, only about 200 applicants remained.
“The college is located in a green zone. While connectivity may not be a major issue, there are no hostels, cafés or a student ecosystem around the campus. Many students don’t want to travel this far every day, which is why we sought permission to run admissions through Class 12 merit alongside CUET,” said Mishra.
Neelam Rathi, principal at Aditi Mahavidyalaya in Bawana, said the college was originally established to cater to students from the surrounding rural areas, many of whom either do not apply through CUET because of the associated costs or are unaware of the process.
The college received nearly 800 applications initially for almost 1,000 seats, but after upgrade rounds, only about 80-90 applicants remained.
“Being in a remote location with no hostel facilities also discourages students from opting for the college. Through Class 12 admissions, we are getting meritorious students scoring over 90%,” she said.
The problem is not limited to off-campus colleges; last year some of DU’s most sought-after colleges like St Stephen’s and Miranda House also saw vacancies in courses like Sanskrit.
The university has rationalised BA programme combinations across colleges this year, wherein courses that attracted poor enrolment were replaced with more in-demand programmes to improve seat utilisation. In one instance, the College of Vocational Studies after reporting consistently low demand, replaced all its seven vocational BA programmes, except one, with traditional honours courses.
The decision to allow only two colleges to admit students through Class 12 merit was questioned by teachers’ organisations.
“DU must adopt a uniform and transparent policy to fill vacant UG seats. If merit-based admissions are being permitted, the facility cannot be restricted to only a few colleges while many others continue to struggle with vacancies,” said Prof Pankaj Garg, chairperson, Indian National Teachers Congress.
Garg called for a comprehensive review of the policy by the Academic Council, stating that the development reflected the limitations of the CUET-based admission system in ensuring optimum seat utilisation.
The Academic for Action and Development Teachers’ Association also criticised the move.
“CUET and CSAS have failed miserably. Such confusion and chaotic admissions have made the university a laughing stock. One nation, one examination, one admission has brought havoc on us,” said the association.
