Delhi University admissions to consider CUCET and class 12th board exam scores for the 2021-22 batch

The University of Delhi, one of the recognized universities in the country is considering some major changes in its admission process for the upcoming session 2021-22. Delhi University admissions this year might be done based on class 12th board exam scores and scores in Central Universities Common Entrance Test (CUCET).

What is CUCET?

It is an entrance test which is conducted at all India level for admission to different undergraduate, postgraduate, Ph.D. and research programs offered in central and state universities across the country. Some of them which consider CUCETs score as a qualifying criterion for admission to their various programs are Assam University, Silchar (CUASM), Central University of Karnataka (CUKNK), Central University of Rajasthan (CURAJ), Central University of Tamil Nadu (CUTND), and Central University of Andhra Pradesh (CUAPH).

The news was also confirmed by the current vice-chancellor of Delhi University (DU), Pooran Chand Joshi who said that CUCET will soon be adopted as selection criteria for Delhi university admissions but there will be no compromise on the merit criteria and the 12th board marks will still carry weightage. He said, “Naturally, this year admissions would be different. While CUCET final form is still awaited, we have set up our own admission committee in place.”

The proposal regarding adopting CUCET scores for admission to various programs offered by DU has already been sent to the University Grants Commission (UGC). If it is adopted then the students looking for admission to DU will have double hurdles to cross. They will have to score really well in their 12th board exams and also qualify for the CUCET aptitude test which will include subject-specific tests, quantitative aptitude, verbal ability, and logical reasoning tests.

Common aptitude test 

The government had earlier decided to conduct a common aptitude test for admission to central universities all over India for the academic session 2021-22. A seven-member committee was also constituted to recommend the modalities of a high-quality aptitude test which could be made common for admission to all these universities. This implementation will start from the upcoming academic session. It will be conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) that has been successfully conducting many national level entrance examinations since 2017. 

Sobha Bagai, Dean (admissions) DU for 2020-21 said in support of the proposal for CUCET exam score to be included in Delhi University admissions criteria. The Dean said, “The entrance exam will ease admissions. Earlier we did not know how to differentiate among students who had scored very high marks in Class 12th, CUCET will help in this, like in our undergraduate courses that require admission tests.”

How the test will be conducted and its advantages for students 

It will be a computer-based test and its primary aim will be to test the candidate’s aptitude level through logical, verbal and quant related questions. Candidates will also be given the liberty to choose a subject-specific test based on their preferences.

This method of conducting and selecting students for Delhi University admissions will have numerous advantages for both the test takers and the university, some of which are listed below:

1. One of the initial recommendations for conducting this entrance test is that it should happen twice a year (though for the 2021-22 session it has been proposed to conduct it once). This will benefit the students because in case someone misses the examination due to any unforeseen conditions in the first attempt they will still have the option to take it again in the next attempt.
2. The entrance test exam will create a uniformity in the admission process as it will be common for all central universities across India thus providing a level playing field to students across the country.
3. The cut-offs for Delhi University admissions are usually very high for most subjects due to which many capable students miss out on the chance to study at DU as their academic score is not that high. A common entrance test will give each and every aspirant an equal opportunity to try securing admission at DU.
4. Not everyone will be allowed to sit for the entrance exam, a minimum eligibility criteria will be still set so that only worthy candidates are selected finally.
5. Students are extremely stressed during the admissions time as they have to appear for different exams for various universities across India. A common test will eliminate this problem to a great extent as they can focus on just one exam.   

These changes and proposals are being undertaken under the National Education Policy which was approved some months back by the Union Cabinet of India The policy aims to work to offer a high-quality common aptitude test as well as specialized common subject exams in the sciences, humanities, languages, arts and vocational subjects, at least twice every year. These exams shall test conceptual understanding to the best!

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