Top News

CUET Exam 2026: Following the imminent release of the Class 12 results for 2026, the admission process for students seeking entry into top colleges—such as Delhi University (DU), JNU, and others—will officially commence. Find out the complete admission procedure here.

CUET Exam 2026: The Class 12 results for 2026 are set to be released soon for lakhs of CBSE students. While there is palpable excitement among students regarding the results, there is also a lingering sense of anxiety, as this marks the true beginning of the race for college admissions. In particular, students require strong scores to secure admission to prestigious institutions like Delhi University, JNU, and other top-tier colleges across the country. According to reports, the CBSE Class 12 results are expected to be released by mid-May. However, the admission process for India’s premier universities has undergone significant changes over the past few years; board examination scores alone no longer determine eligibility for admission into higher education programs.

The Admission Process for DU, JNU, and Top Colleges

For admission into major institutions like Delhi University and JNU, entrance examinations—such as the CUET—now play a pivotal role, with selection based entirely on merit and entrance test scores. Consequently, CBSE board scores now serve merely as an indicator of eligibility and academic proficiency, rather than acting as the sole criterion for final selection. While this shift has brought greater clarity to the process for students on one hand, it has also given rise to some confusion on the other. Previously, students faced immense anxiety regarding the extremely high cut-off scores required by colleges like Delhi University; that specific pressure has now somewhat subsided. However, it has become increasingly critical to perform exceptionally well in the single entrance examination, thereby intensifying the overall competition. Therefore, it is imperative for the Class 2026 batch to prepare equally rigorously for both their board examinations and the entrance examinations to ensure they remain competitive in the race to secure admission to top-tier colleges.

The Role of Board Exams and CUET at DU

For undergraduate admissions at Delhi University in 2026, marks obtained in the Class 12 board examinations will not be directly utilized to determine merit; however, passing the board examinations remains a mandatory requirement. Admissions will be based entirely on the scores obtained in the CUET (UG) 2026 examination, which will be facilitated through the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS). Nevertheless, in the event of a tie—where two candidates have identical CUET scores—Class 12 marks (and now Class 10 marks as well) will be used as a tie-breaker. Furthermore, for certain specific courses, the University may stipulate a minimum percentage requirement in the board examinations, compliance with which will be mandatory.

Admission Process at JNU and Other Colleges

At Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), admissions for the majority of courses are determined based on CUET scores. Here, CBSE marks are primarily utilized solely to verify eligibility and academic credentials. However, students with a strong academic background often tend to perform better in entrance examinations. Consequently, while many successful candidates are observed to have secured approximately 75% to 90% marks in their CBSE examinations, this does not constitute a mandatory prerequisite for admission. To secure admission at JNU, candidates are required to opt for Section IA (English) and Section III (General Test) in the CUET examination.

Admission Procedures at Other Universities

Similarly, the same methodology is adopted by Jamia Millia Islamia, Banaras Hindu University, and numerous private universities. While CBSE marks serve to reflect a candidate’s eligibility and academic proficiency, the ultimate selection is contingent upon their performance in the CUET examination. Therefore, even if a student has secured only average marks in their Class 12 examinations, they can still gain admission to a reputable college by achieving a high score in the entrance examination.