Team siliconindia

• 7000 undergraduate seats remain vacant despite seven admission rounds.
• Final mop-up round based on Class 12 marks attracts over 21,000 applicants.
• Vacancies concentrated in off-campus colleges due to weak infrastructure and limited facilities.

With undergraduate classes at Delhi University already underway since August 1, nearly 7,000 seats remain unfilled even after seven rounds of admissions. To tackle this shortfall, DU has launched a final mop-up admission round, drawing more than 21,000 hopeful applicants eager for a last chance to secure a seat.

This mop-up round is different from previous admission phases. Unlike earlier rounds that relied on CUET scores, this time admissions are based solely on Class 12 marks. The round is designed to help students who missed CUET, failed to get a seat earlier, or wish to upgrade their college or course preferences.

Officials say the vacant seats are concentrated in off-campus colleges, many of which report 50-70% of their seats remain empty despite DU’s over-allocation strategy. Factors such as weaker infrastructure, limited visibility, and lack of hostel facilities have contributed to the persistent vacancies.

This is not the first time DU has faced empty seats. In 2022, before CUET was introduced, around 5,000 seats remained vacant. The number rose to 7,000 in 2023, dropped to 3,000 in 2024, and has surged again in 2025. Over the past three years, these unfilled seats have cost the university nearly Rs 21 crore in lost tuition fees.

Also Read: Delhi Skill University Begins 2025 Admission Process

Officials point out that one reason for the vacancies is students not prioritizing their choices properly during CUET counselling. “Many students fail to plan their preferences carefully. By the time they try to upgrade, a large number of seats remain unfilled”, said Haneet Gandhi, Dean of Admissions.

The Academic and Administrative Teachers’ Association (AADTA) has criticized the CUET system, claiming it has created unnecessary hurdles and contributed to rising vacancies. Parents, meanwhile, are divided some welcome the flexibility of the mop-up round, while others feel the process has become unpredictable.

For students, the mop-up round offers a second chance. “I scored well in Class 12 but CUET didn’t go my way. This mop-up round feels like a fresh opportunity”, said Riya Sharma, a student from Ghaziabad applying for Economics Honours.

Whether DU manages to fill the remaining seats in this final phase will determine if 2025 becomes another year of record vacancies or a recovery from mid-admission chaos.