Delhi University Announces UG Admission Policy for 2026, CUET Rules Unchanged

The University of Delhi has formally unveiled its undergraduate admission framework for the academic year 2026, setting the stage for one of the most competitive entry seasons in the country. With lakhs of aspirants eyeing seats across its 91 colleges, 86 departments, and 16 faculties, the announcement carries immense significance for students, parents, and educators alike.

At the heart of the policy lies the Common University Entrance Test (CUET-UG 2026), which continues to serve as the primary gateway for admission into most undergraduate programmes. The university has reiterated that candidates must appear in CUET only for those subjects they studied in their Class 12 curriculum. This requirement ensures alignment between school-level learning and university-level evaluation, while also curbing attempts to game the system by opting for unrelated subjects.

For regular students, eligibility extends to Indian citizens as well as Overseas Citizens of India (OCI). Every applicant, including those applying under supernumerary quotas, must register for CUET through the National Testing Agency's official portal, cuet.nta.nic.in. However, clearing CUET alone does not guarantee a seat. Qualified candidates must also register separately on Delhi University's Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) portal, admission.uod.ac.in, to participate in the allocation rounds.

The university has carved out distinct pathways for its alternative learning divisions. The School of Open Learning (SOL), which caters to students seeking flexible and distance education, will not rely on CUET scores. Instead, admissions will be determined by Class 12 marks, with registrations processed through sol.du.ac.in. Similarly, the Non-Collegiate Women's Education Board (NCWEB), which offers BA and BCom programmes exclusively for women, will admit candidates based on their school-leaving marks. Applications for NCWEB are to be submitted at ncwebadmission.uod.ac.in.

Foreign nationals have also been given a structured route. Ten percent of seats in each programme are reserved as supernumerary seats for international students. To streamline their applications, DU has launched a dedicated portal, fsr.du.ac.in, ensuring that global aspirants can navigate the process without confusion.

The subject framework for CUET remains largely unchanged from the previous year. List A continues to feature 14 languages including Assamese, Bengali, English, Gujarati, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Telugu, and Urdu. List B, comprising 22 subjects, ranges from Accountancy, Agriculture, Anthropology, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Environmental Studies, Fine Arts, Geography, History, Home Science, Mass Media, Mathematics, Performing Arts, Physical Education, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology. Notably, five subjects-Legal Studies, Engineering Graphics, Teacher Training, Entrepreneurship, and Knowledge Tradition and Practices of India-were removed from List B last year and remain excluded.

Despite the clarity offered by the brochure, the CUET system continues to face resistance from sections of DU's teaching community. Faculty members argue that the centralized test has disrupted the academic calendar, delayed admissions, and created logistical hurdles since its inception. Yet, the university has stood firm, emphasizing that CUET ensures transparency, uniformity, and equal opportunity for students across diverse boards and regions.

With over 6.5 lakh students already enrolled, Delhi University remains one of India's largest and most prestigious higher education institutions. The 2026 admission cycle, shaped by CUET and supplemented by alternative pathways like SOL and NCWEB, reflects the university's attempt to balance inclusivity with standardization.

For aspirants, the message is clear: prepare diligently for CUET in subjects studied at school, follow the correct registration portals, and stay mindful of category-specific rules. The competition will be fierce, but the roadmap has been laid out with precision.