New Delhi: Two off-campus Delhi University colleges — Aditi Mahavidyalaya and Bhagini Nivedita College — have opened admissions based on Class 12 marks, even as the university’s undergraduate admissions are currently being conducted through Common University Entrance Test (CUET) scores, prompting criticism from a section of teachers who say the move has effectively created a parallel admission route during the ongoing admission cycle.Unlike the centralised Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) process, the two colleges have reverted to the pre-CUET admission model by issuing application forms directly, inviting students to apply to the colleges, and preparing their own merit lists based on Class 12 scores. The Class 12 admissions will run simultaneously with the ongoing CUET-CSAS admission process. No cut-off lists will be issued.Bhagini Nivedita College has asked applicants to download admission forms from its website and submit them physically by Aug 5, with the merit list to be displayed the same evening, while document verification and fee payment will continue till Aug 7. Aditi Mahavidyalaya has also invited direct applications, with registrations closing Monday and the merit list scheduled to be released the same day.Traditionally, DU permits admissions based on Class 12 merit only after all rounds of CSAS, including mop-up, are exhausted and vacancies still remain.While the two colleges were also permitted to admit students on the basis of Class 12 merit last year as well, that relaxation came only after all regular CSAS admission rounds had concluded and seats still remained vacant. This year, however, admissions have been opened while DU’s centralised CUET admission process is still underway.DU Registrar Vikas Gupta said the relaxation was granted 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.DU was not considering this a policy shift, he clarified. “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.The two colleges have consistently recorded some of the highest vacancies since DU adopted CUET-based admissions. According to the university’s vacancy assessment last year, Bhagini Nivedita College had 709 vacant seats out of its sanctioned strength of 985, while about 600 of nearly 1,000 seats remained vacant at Aditi Mahavidyalaya.College principals attributed the chronic vacancies to their location. Bhagini Nivedita College principal Ruby Mishra said the college, located in Najafgarh, initially received about 600 applications for its 985 seats through CSAS, but after DU’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,” Mishra said.At Aditi Mahavidyalaya in Bawana, nearly 800 applications were received initially for almost 1,000 seats, but after upgrade rounds, only about 80-90 applicants remained. Principal Neelam Rathi 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.“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.This year, DU also rationalised BA programme combinations across colleges, replacing courses that attracted poor enrolment with more in-demand programmes to improve seat utilisation. For instance, the College of Vocational Studies replaced all its seven vocational BA programmes, except one, with traditional honours courses after reporting consistently low demand.However, teachers’ organisations questioned the decision to allow only two colleges to admit students through Class 12 merit. “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 said the development reflected the limitations of the CUET-based admission system in ensuring optimum seat utilisation and called for a comprehensive review of the policy by the Academic Council.The Academic for Action and Development Teachers’ Association also criticised the move, saying, “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.”
