NEW DELHI, India | August 22, 2026
DU admission 2026 has opened a fresh opportunity for students after Delhi University permitted 11 affiliated colleges to fill vacant undergraduate seats on the basis of Class 12 board examination marks instead of CUET UG scores.
The special admission route applies only to selected programs where seats remain vacant after the university’s regular CUET-based admission rounds.
It does not mean Delhi University has abolished CUET for undergraduate admissions.
Instead, the Class 12 merit system is being used as an additional mechanism to prevent vacant seats in specific colleges and courses from remaining unfilled during the 2026-27 academic session.
Delhi University’s official admission portal now lists a dedicated section for “Under Graduate Admissions based on Class XII Marks (Non-CUET).”
11 DU Colleges Included in Special Admission Route
The colleges permitted to offer admissions based on Class 12 merit include:
- Aditi Mahavidyalaya
- Bhagini Nivedita College
- Kalindi College
- Lakshmibai College
- P.G.D.A.V. College (Evening)
- Rajdhani College
- Shyam Lal College
- Shyama Prasad Mukherji College for Women
- Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce
- Vivekanand College
- Zakir Husain Delhi College (Evening)
Students should note that not every undergraduate program at these colleges is available through the Class 12 merit route.
Admissions are restricted to courses where seats remain vacant.
Can Students Who Did Not Take CUET Apply?
The special process creates an important opportunity for students who either did not appear for CUET UG 2026 or were unable to secure a seat through the regular allocation process.
Candidates must, however, satisfy the eligibility requirements for the specific program and college.
The final merit for these seats will be determined through Class 12 marks under the rules specified by the participating college.
Students should therefore check the individual college admission notice before submitting an application.
Already Admitted to DU? Important Restriction
There is a significant restriction.
A candidate who has already secured admission to a Delhi University college through the regular admission process is not eligible to take another admission through this Class 12 merit-based route.
The provision is intended primarily to fill genuinely vacant seats and provide opportunities to students who have not yet secured admission.
Candidates should not cancel an existing DU seat in anticipation of obtaining a seat through the special process unless an official university or college rule specifically permits it.
Why Has Delhi University Opened Non-CUET Admissions?
Delhi University has completed multiple stages of its CUET-based Common Seat Allocation System, or CSAS, for the 2026-27 undergraduate admission cycle.
However, vacancies remain in some programs.
Rather than allow those seats to remain empty for the academic year, the university has allowed selected colleges to use Class 12 marks to fill them.
Many of the vacancies are concentrated in traditional humanities, language and selected science programs.
The special arrangement is therefore focused on seat utilization, rather than replacing the university’s main CUET-based admission structure.
Which Courses May Have Vacancies?
The exact list differs from college to college.
Programs reported under the special admission mechanism include selected courses in:
- Hindi
- Sanskrit
- Persian
- Urdu
- Political Science
- History
- Geography
- Social Work
- Journalism
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Physical Sciences
- Home Science
- B.Com
- B.A. Programme combinations
Availability can change as seats are filled.
Candidates should therefore verify the latest vacancy position directly with the concerned college.
Kalindi College Opens Selected Courses
Kalindi College is among the institutions participating in the Class 12 merit route.
Vacant-seat admissions include selected programs such as B.A. (Hons.) Hindi, B.A. (Hons.) Sanskrit and B.Sc. (Hons.) Physics, subject to the college’s current vacancy position and eligibility rules.
The inclusion of science programs makes the special admission round relevant beyond language and humanities students.
Aditi Mahavidyalaya Has Multiple Merit-Based Options
Aditi Mahavidyalaya has already been publishing merit-based admission notices for several programs.
Its official website lists merit-based admissions involving B.Com and multiple B.A. Programme combinations, along with subjects including Geography, Hindi Journalism, Social Work, Political Science, Sociology, Education and other disciplines.
Students interested in Aditi Mahavidyalaya should check the latest college notice because merit lists and available seats can change quickly.
What Students Should Do Now
Students interested in DU admission 2026 without CUET scores should take a few immediate steps.
Check the official DU admissions portal
Look specifically for the section titled Under Graduate Admissions based on Class XII Marks (Non-CUET).
Identify the participating college
Check whether the college you are interested in is among the 11 institutions authorized for the special process.
Check the exact course vacancy
Do not assume every program in a participating college is open.
Only designated vacant programs are eligible.
Verify course eligibility
Students must satisfy the academic eligibility requirements for the program.
A high Class 12 percentage alone does not override subject-specific eligibility conditions.
Keep original documents ready
Candidates may be required to produce Class 10 and Class 12 certificates, mark sheets, category certificates where applicable, photographs and other documents requested by the college.
Track deadlines carefully
Vacant-seat admission rounds can move quickly, and applications may close once available seats are filled.
Does This Mean CUET Is No Longer Required for DU?
No.
This distinction is extremely important.
Delhi University’s standard undergraduate admission process for 2026-27 remains centered on CUET UG and the Common Seat Allocation System.
Earlier admission guidance clearly stated that CUET scores would be used for regular undergraduate seat allocation.
The Class 12 merit route is a special vacant-seat mechanism operating alongside the main admission system for selected courses in selected colleges.
Students applying for future regular DU admission cycles should therefore not assume that Class 12 marks have permanently replaced CUET.
Opportunity for Students Who Missed Regular Admission
The move could nevertheless provide an important second opportunity for many students.
Some candidates may have strong Class 12 marks but failed to secure a DU seat through CUET.
Others may not have appeared for CUET at all.
For those students, the special merit-based admission round can reopen a pathway into Delhi University — provided their preferred course still has vacancies and they meet its eligibility conditions.
The development is particularly significant because DU remains one of India’s most sought-after public universities.
Students Should Avoid Fake Admission Links
The new admission opportunity may also attract scammers.
Candidates should avoid WhatsApp messages, unofficial payment links or individuals promising a “confirmed DU seat” in exchange for money.
Students should rely only on:
- Delhi University’s official admission portal
- The official website of the participating college
- Official admission notices
- Authorized college admission offices
No student should transfer money to a personal account or intermediary claiming to guarantee admission.
DU Admission 2026 Enters Final Vacancy-Filling Phase
The latest development marks an important stage in the DU admission 2026 process.
While CUET remains the university’s principal admission route, the introduction of Class 12 merit admissions across 11 colleges provides another chance to fill remaining undergraduate seats before the admission cycle closes.
For students still searching for a DU seat, the message is simple: check the participating colleges immediately, confirm the available program and eligibility conditions, and follow only official admission instructions.
With vacancies limited, eligible candidates may need to act quickly.
