Delhi University (DU), one of the country’s most sought-after public universities, is preparing to hold a second mop-up admission round in physical mode to address the issue of vacant undergraduate (UG) seats. The decision came after the university’s executive council (EC) meeting on Friday, where concerns were raised about the unusually high number of unfilled seats despite the CUET (Common University Entrance Test) based admission process.
Over 9,000 UG seats vacant
University officials revealed that more than 9,000 undergraduate seats remain vacant across DU’s North Campus and peripheral colleges. This is a significant number given the competition for DU admissions every year.
Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh suggested holding an open mop-up round to give students another chance at securing spot admissions. The EC has authorised him to frame a clear policy for this round. Unlike the centralised CUET counselling system, the mop-up will likely be more flexible, with colleges directly admitting students in physical mode.
“This is worrisome. CUET is becoming an unnecessary barricade. On top of that, a month of teaching has already passed, which might have caused hesitation among students to join late,” said Abha Dev Habib, a professor at Miranda House.
Mixed response to CUET
The adoption of CUET was meant to bring uniformity and transparency in admissions. However, many faculty members argue that it has added complexity and deterred students who might otherwise have chosen DU. The high number of vacant seats this year has triggered debate about whether the system is achieving its purpose.
The mop-up round is seen as a corrective measure, aimed at ensuring deserving students do not miss out and colleges do not lose out on classroom strength.
PhD guidelines standardised from 2025–26
The EC meeting also approved uniform PhD guidelines, which will be implemented across all departments starting the 2025–26 academic session.
Currently, PhD coursework varies significantly between subjects, creating confusion among students. To ensure standardisation, the new guidelines propose coursework worth 12–16 credits:
- Four credits of research methodology or advanced research methodology
- Two credits of research publication ethics
- Two credits of research tools
- Four credits of discipline-specific electives
University officials said this move would help bring DU in line with UGC standards and provide parity among PhD programmes across disciplines.
Honorary doctorate for Sri Lankan PM
In another significant decision, the EC resolved to award an honorary doctorate to Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, who studied at Hindu College, Delhi University. She is expected to receive the honour during her scheduled visit in October.
The university said the honorary degree recognises her contributions to education, politics, and social development. The gesture also highlights DU’s long-standing academic and cultural ties beyond India.
What lies ahead
With more than 9,000 seats on the line, the second mop-up round will be crucial for both students and colleges. While DU has not yet released detailed guidelines, officials confirmed that admissions will be conducted in physical mode, meaning students will have to visit campuses for spot admissions.
The move is expected to benefit those who were unable to secure seats during earlier CUET-based rounds due to technical glitches, delayed results, or indecision about courses.
At the same time, the debate over CUET’s effectiveness is unlikely to die down soon. For many professors, the vacant seats are proof that the exam system needs urgent review. For students, however, the mop-up round represents a last window of opportunity to join Delhi University this year.
