Mon Jul 14 01:56:32 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a rewritten news article:

**Summary:**

The article from The Hindu highlights how the implementation of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) and centralized online admission systems for universities like Delhi University (DU) is inadvertently hindering access to higher education for students from rural and marginalized backgrounds in Haryana, India. Misinformation, complex digital processes, lack of awareness, and financial constraints are contributing factors that are making it harder for these students to pursue their dreams of studying at prestigious central universities. While DU claims online process leads to greater diversity, a visible decline in diversity can be seen in classrooms because of fees rising, Delhi becoming more expensive, parents struggling to afford coaching and form-filling is daunting.

**News Article:**

**Digital Divide Dashes Dreams of Rural Students Aiming for Delhi University**

**Rohtak, Haryana – July 14, 2025** – The dream of attending Delhi University (DU) is fading for many students from rural Haryana, despite efforts to streamline admissions through the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) and centralized online systems. A recent investigation by The Hindu reveals that misinformation, digital literacy gaps, and financial burdens are creating significant barriers for marginalized students seeking higher education.

In Marodhi Jattan village, 17-year-old Rinki’s aspirations were crushed when she was falsely told she was ineligible for CUET due to an alleged age limit. Her story is not unique. Across Haryana, students relying on government-run Common Services Centres (CSCs) – often the only access point to online applications – are facing similar challenges.

“Earlier, many students aspired to go outside Haryana for studies. Now the admission process involves multiple steps, including registration, obtaining a rank, creating a preference list, and accepting or rejecting colleges – all done online. Only children from well-informed or elite families manage to complete the process,” explains Surender Singh, a teacher at a government school.

The complex online application process, combined with a lack of adequate counseling in schools, leaves many students uninformed and unprepared. Social activist Sunil Jaglan notes that information is often passed down through student networks, creating an “information vacuum” when no one from a village applies in a given year.

Even for those who manage to navigate the system, the financial burden of cybercafe visits, coaching classes, and rising living costs in Delhi poses a significant hurdle. Professor Abha Dev Habib of Miranda House observes a visible decline in classroom diversity, attributing it to these factors.

While DU acknowledges the challenges and has launched skill training programs for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, advocates are calling for more comprehensive outreach and support to ensure that the promise of accessible higher education doesn’t become a distant dream for rural and marginalized students.

“The form-filling itself is daunting. That is where the digital and information divide hits hardest”, said Abha Dev Habib, Professor at Miranda House.

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