Delhi University (DU) will begin its new academic session for 2025–26 on August 1. This move is aimed at bringing back order and punctuality to the academic calendar, which had seen delays in recent years due to late entrance results and admission processes.
Admission Timeline and Process
With the results of the Common University Entrance Test for Undergraduates (CUET-UG) expected soon, DU is preparing to launch Phase 2 of its undergraduate admission process in the coming week. A correction window will open for students who have already registered. Applicants will also need to upload required documents and confirm their course and college preferences.
Phase 1 of the admission process began on June 17, and the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) portal has been active since then. It will continue to be open even after Phase 2 starts. Students who have not yet registered are advised to do so without delay to avoid missing out on available seats.
Total Seats and Programs
This year, DU is offering 71,624 seats across 79 undergraduate programs and 186 subject combinations. These seats are spread over 69 colleges and departments. Admissions will be carried out through the CSAS portal, which maps a student’s CUET subjects to their Class 12 subjects. Only CUET papers that match the student’s academic background will be considered for admission.
Step-by-Step Admission Rules
Once a seat is offered, candidates must accept it through the CSAS portal. After this, the concerned college will verify the documents and eligibility. Students can pay the admission fee only after this verification. If a student fails to pay the fee within the given time, it will be treated as a rejection of the seat.
To settle tie cases where students have the same CUET and Class 12 marks, DU will use Class 10 marks as the first tiebreaker. If the tie still remains, the student’s age will be taken into account.
ECA Quota: Trials Begin July 14
The university will also conduct trials for the Extra-Curricular Activities (ECA) quota beginning July 14. A total of 1,347 ECA seats are available across 14 categories, including music, dance, drama, NCC, and NSS. Depending on the activity, trials will be held either online or at specific colleges. For instance, creative writing trials will be held at Hansraj College, while devotional singing trials will take place at Mata Sundari College for Women.
Selection for ECA quota will be based on a combined score, where 75 percent weightage is given to ECA performance and 25 percent to CUET scores. Each category will have a separate trial venue, and the entire process will be coordinated through a centralized system.
Why the Early Start Matters
Last year, DU’s academic session began on August 29 and stretched into October. This delay caused tight schedules, shorter vacations, and increased pressure on both students and teachers. Starting on August 1 this year is part of the university’s goal to avoid such issues and return to a more organized system.
A DU official said that the second phase of admissions has been designed to be short and effective, possibly lasting just one week. This will help the university meet the August 1 deadline.
The effort to start classes on time shows DU’s commitment to student welfare and academic discipline. After years of delays and disruptions, both teachers and students are hopeful for a smoother and more predictable academic year.
If successful, DU’s timely schedule could become a model for universities across India. It would prove that even large institutions can stay efficient when they put students’ needs first.
