Wed Sep 10 19:52:26 UTC 2025: ## Summary:
Delhi University is struggling to fill over 9,000 undergraduate seats despite a final “mop-up” admission round. While the university claims to be taking all possible measures, faculty members attribute the large number of vacancies, particularly in reserved categories, to flaws in the centralized admission process (CUET). Teachers argue the system is overly complex and lacks transparency, disadvantaging students from marginalized backgrounds and remote areas. The University Grants Commission directed institutions to admit students based on board marks rather than CUET scores in the final round to address the issue. Some blame the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 for implementing CUET and stripping colleges of admission autonomy.
## News Article:
**Delhi University Scrambles to Fill Thousands of Vacant Seats Amid Admission System Criticism**
**NEW DELHI, September 11, 2025** – Delhi University is facing a significant challenge as it enters its fifth and final mop-up round of admissions, with over 9,000 undergraduate seats remaining vacant. Despite efforts by university officials, faculty members are raising concerns about systemic issues within the centralized admission process.
Data reveals a substantial number of unfilled seats across reserved categories, including OBC (2,488), SC (1,332), ST (1,582), and EWS (1,359), prompting accusations that the current system disproportionately affects marginalized students.
University officials maintain they are doing everything possible to rectify the situation, including making extra allocations to address the gaps. “Vacancies in reserved categories might appear higher because some students get their preferred choice in the unreserved category in the second and third rounds, without making use of the quota,” explained Haneet Gandhi, Dean of Admissions.
In a move to ensure seats are filled, the University Grants Commission (UGC) directed institutions to consider board marks instead of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) scores for this final round. This decision aims to accommodate students from remote areas who may have missed the CUET exam or faced challenges in mapping their subjects correctly.
However, teachers argue that the large number of vacancies highlights fundamental flaws in the centralized admission system, particularly the CUET. “The centralised allocation system is complicated and lacks transparency. Students from marginalised sections suffer the most under this system,” said Anand Prakash, professor and former member of Delhi’s OBC commission.
Some critics, like Aditya Narayan Misra of the Aam Aadmi Party’s teachers’ wing, are pointing fingers at the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which mandated CUET and allegedly stripped colleges of their autonomy in admissions.
The situation varies across colleges, with some institutions like Bhagini Nivedita College and Aditi Mahavidyalaya reporting hundreds of vacant seats, while top-ranked colleges like Miranda House and Lady Shri Ram College have only a handful remaining.
The debate continues as educators question the rationale behind using two different parameters – CUET and board results – for different admission rounds, raising concerns about fairness and consistency. The extended deadline for colleges to finalize allocations is now September 12, leaving the university with a narrow window to address the persisting issue of unfilled seats.
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