Delhi University has opened a fresh admission opportunity for students who could not secure an undergraduate seat through the regular CUET-based process. Three more DU colleges have been permitted to consider Class 12 board marks for selected vacant UG seats, creating an alternative route for eligible students.
The latest move covers Shyam Lal College, Rajdhani College and Zakir Husain Delhi College (Evening). The colleges are accepting applications for specific programmes where seats are still available after the regular admission process.
For students who missed out during CUET-UG counselling, this development could be important. However, it does not mean that DU has abandoned CUET. The university’s regular UG admission system continues to be based on CUET scores and the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS).
Definition: DU’s Class 12 merit-based admission route is a special arrangement allowing selected colleges to fill specified vacant undergraduate seats using students’ Class 12 board marks. It is an exception to the normal CUET-based DU admission system and applies only to approved courses and vacancies.
What Happened?
The University of Delhi has expanded a special merit-based admission arrangement to three additional colleges after some undergraduate seats remained vacant following the regular CUET admission process.
The colleges are:
- Shyam Lal College
- Rajdhani College
- Zakir Husain Delhi College (Evening)
Under this arrangement, students can apply for specified programmes using their Class 12 marks instead of relying on a CUET score for those particular vacancies. The admissions are being handled by the respective colleges for the approved courses.
This is significant because DU’s official 2026-27 admission framework states that UG seat allocation is based on CUET-UG scores, while Class 12 marks are generally relevant only for tie-breaking during CSAS allocation.
Therefore, students should not interpret the latest announcement as a general DU admission without CUET policy. It is a limited measure designed to fill specified vacancies.
Complete Details
The three colleges have announced different programmes and deadlines.
Shyam Lal College
Shyam Lal College has opened applications for three programmes:
- B.Sc. Physical Science with Chemistry
- B.Sc. Physical Science with Electronics
- B.A. (Hons.) Hindi
According to the reported admission schedule, applications opened on August 19, 2026, and the deadline is August 21, 2026. The merit list is scheduled for August 23, followed by physical document verification on August 24 and 25.
Students interested in these programmes should treat August 21 as an immediate deadline and verify the latest notice issued by the college before submitting an application.
Rajdhani College
Rajdhani College is accepting applications for several science and humanities programmes, including:
- B.A. (Hons.) Sanskrit
- B.Sc. (Hons.) Physics
- B.Sc. Physical Science with Chemistry
- B.Sc. Applied Physical Science with Industrial Chemistry
- B.A. Programme with Sanskrit and History
The reported application deadline is 5 PM on August 24, 2026. The merit list is expected on August 25, with document verification scheduled for August 27 and 28. Fee payment is due by August 29, according to the published schedule.
Zakir Husain Delhi College (Evening)
Zakir Husain Delhi College (Evening) has opened admissions for language and humanities programmes.
The available courses include:
- B.A. (Hons.) Persian
- B.A. (Hons.) Sanskrit
- B.A. (Hons.) Urdu
- B.A. Programme combinations involving Arabic, Bengali, Persian, Sanskrit or Urdu with History or Political Science
The reported application window opened on August 19 and will remain open until August 23, 2026.
Quick Admission Snapshot
| College | Selected programmes | Application deadline | Merit/Verification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shyam Lal College | B.Sc. Physical Science, B.A. (Hons.) Hindi | Aug 21 | Merit list Aug 23; verification Aug 24–25 |
| Rajdhani College | Science and humanities programmes | Aug 24, 5 PM | Merit list Aug 25; verification Aug 27–28 |
| Zakir Husain Delhi College (Evening) | Persian, Sanskrit, Urdu and BA Programme combinations | Aug 23 | As per college schedule |
The above dates and courses are based on reports published on August 20. Applicants should check the latest college-issued notice before relying on any deadline or document requirement.
Why This Matters
The development matters for two major reasons.
First, it provides another opportunity to students who may have completed Class 12 successfully but did not secure a seat through CUET-based counselling. A student who still meets the programme-specific eligibility conditions can now compete for certain vacancies on the basis of board marks.
Second, it highlights the challenge of filling seats across all DU colleges. While highly sought-after colleges and programmes generally attract intense competition, some programmes, particularly in certain off-campus institutions, can face difficulty filling their sanctioned intake.
Earlier this month, Aditi Mahavidyalaya and Bhagini Nivedita College were also permitted to use Class 12 marks for selected vacant UG seats. The latest permissions indicate that the issue has continued beyond those two colleges.
For students, the practical message is simple: a missed CUET allocation does not necessarily mean every possibility of studying at DU has ended. However, opportunities are limited to specific colleges, courses and vacancies.
Public/Expert Reaction
The decision has generated discussion about the consistency of DU’s admission system.
The regular framework is centred on CUET and CSAS, while the latest arrangement allows selected colleges to use Class 12 merit for particular vacancies. Reports on the earlier permissions for Aditi Mahavidyalaya and Bhagini Nivedita College noted concerns from sections of the teaching community about creating a parallel admission route during the ongoing admission cycle.
At the same time, the practical argument for the measure is clear: vacant seats represent unused educational capacity, while eligible students are still looking for undergraduate opportunities.
The special route therefore attempts to balance two objectives — maintaining the CUET-based admission framework while preventing approved vacant seats from remaining unfilled.
There is currently no indication that Class 12 marks have replaced CUET as DU’s standard UG admission criterion. The university’s published 2026-27 admission information continues to identify CUET-UG as the basis for regular seat allocation.
Important Facts
Students considering this route should remember the following:
- CUET remains the normal route for DU undergraduate admissions in 2026-27.
- The Class 12-based route is a special exception for specified vacant seats.
- Only the programmes approved by the respective colleges are covered.
- Students must satisfy the relevant programme-specific eligibility requirements.
- The admission process is being handled by the respective colleges rather than replacing the regular CSAS mechanism.
- Deadlines differ between the three colleges.
- Applicants should verify the latest notice, eligibility conditions and document requirements before applying.
- Students should not assume that every DU college is accepting applications based on Class 12 marks.
- The opportunity is particularly relevant to students who did not obtain a seat through the regular CUET process.
For the standard admission framework, students should rely on the official University of Delhi admission portal and the notices issued by the concerned colleges. DU’s 2026-27 information confirms that CUET-UG scores are used for regular UG seat allocation.
Authoritative sources:
- University of Delhi official website
- DU UG Admission portal
- University of Delhi Undergraduate Admissions 2026-27 FAQ and CSAS information.
FAQs
1. Can I get DU admission in 2026 based on Class 12 marks?
For selected vacant seats in the colleges and programmes covered by this special arrangement, eligible students can be considered on the basis of Class 12 marks. This is not the general DU admission method for 2026-27.
2. Which three DU colleges are offering this special admission route?
The three newly permitted colleges are Shyam Lal College, Rajdhani College and Zakir Husain Delhi College (Evening).
3. Is CUET still compulsory for regular DU UG admission?
Yes. CUET-UG remains the standard basis for regular DU undergraduate seat allocation through CSAS. The Class 12 merit route is a limited exception for specified vacancies.
4. Which courses are available at Shyam Lal College?
The reported courses are B.Sc. Physical Science with Chemistry, B.Sc. Physical Science with Electronics and B.A. (Hons.) Hindi.
5. Where should students check the latest admission information?
Students should check the official DU admission portal as well as the individual college’s latest admission notice. Because deadlines can change, applicants should verify the information before submitting documents or paying fees.
Final Verdict
The latest DU Admission 2026 development is a significant opportunity for students still searching for an undergraduate seat. Shyam Lal College, Rajdhani College and Zakir Husain Delhi College (Evening) have been allowed to use Class 12 merit for selected vacant programmes, giving eligible applicants another chance after the regular CUET process.
However, students should keep one point clear: this is not a replacement for CUET. It is a targeted measure for filling approved vacant seats.
With deadlines arriving quickly, interested students should check the concerned college’s latest notice, confirm eligibility and submit their application within the prescribed window.
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