BHU Admission 2026: BFA candidates stunned by practical exam scores; demand answers and inquiry

"Last year, I scored 262 in the practical and this year, after an additional year of preparation, I got 263. Students who scored above 300 in 2025 have had their grades reduced to 177 or 120,” said Akshay Morya from Pratapgarh, Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) aspirant.

Morya is among students questioning the evaluation of the Banaras Hindu University entrance exam for BFA, specifically, its practical component. Students have demanded disclosure of marks and cut-offs for the 2026 admission session, an independent review of the entrance process and action against security personnel accused of beating protesters during an August 25 protest at BHU’s central office.

Students’ concerns focus on the 400-mark practical examination, which accounts for more than half of the 650 marks in BHU’s BFA entrance test. The test also includes a 250-mark theory paper. Students allege that the practical evaluation was manipulated, pointing to cases in which repeat candidates received lower marks this year than in 2025. They have also questioned whether candidates associated with a particular coaching institute in Varanasi received higher marks, alleging that the institute provides stationery and financial support to the university.

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A list circulated by the students compares the practical marks of candidates who appeared for the BFA entrance examinations in 2025 and 2026. It shows, for instance, Gautam Kumar’s marks falling from 365 to 240, Akash Kumar’s from 350 to 254, Zoya Fatima’s from 330 to 248, and Prajukta Mallick’s from 310 to 177. It lists several other similar cases. The candidates are now planning a protest on September 9.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.FA) degree at BHU Varanasi, is a four-year undergraduate programme offered by the Faculty of Visual Arts. It is among the prominent fine arts programmes in India and offers specialisations in applied arts, painting, textile design, plastic arts (sculpture) and pottery and ceramics.

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The practical examination was conducted on August 9, while the first-round selection list was released on August 25.

BHU BFA Entrance Exam: Practical evaluation

Morya said many candidates had taken a year off to prepare for the entrance examination. “Students have worked for an entire year, so they are questioning how work that received 300-plus marks earlier could receive much lower marks this time,” he said.

He said students want the university to explain the method used to evaluate the practical papers.

Archana, a BFA aspirant from Varanasi, scored 261 out of 400 in the practical examination and 209 out of 250 in the theory paper. She said the theory examination was not the focus of the students’ concerns. “The main concern among students is the practical examination. We do not understand the basis on which the marks have been given,” she said.

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Candidates select major and minor disciplines in BFA fine arts, with cut-offs varying with the combination.

Archana said she had planned to pursue applied arts as her major and ceramics as her minor. Her combined score was 470, against a cut-off of 486 for the combination. She prepared for the examination on her own and without coaching for either component.

BHU Entrance Exam: Allegations against coaching centre

Students have also questioned the marks and admissions of candidates associated with a private fine arts training academy in Varanasi. They allege that some candidates who received coaching at the centre secured higher marks and admission.

Kathyayani, a Bhagat Singh Students Morcha (BSM) leader and BHU student who supported the BFA students’ protest, also referred to the allegations. She said students had alleged that candidates associated with the academy secured admission

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‘Drawings not shown’: BFA Fine Arts candidates

Bandana Gupta, a BFA aspirant who appeared for the examination for the second time, scored 271 out of 400 in the practical examination and 193 out of 250 in theory. Her total was 464. She said she had scored 320 in the practical examination last year.

“The biggest issue is that our practical copies are not shown to us. If we could see our drawings or copies, we could compare them with the marks we received,” Gupta said.

She said students also wanted the university to publish a clear cut-off list, as admission-related information was being sent to candidates individually by email, making it difficult to determine the cut-offs.

BHU Entrance Exam: Scuffle and protest

The dispute also involves an incident at the university’s central office on August 25.

A memorandum submitted to the BHU vice-chancellor on August 27, and signed by students, alleges that students protesting over the BFA entrance examination were pushed out of the central office by security and proctorial guards. It alleges that some students were assaulted and that a female student sustained injuries.

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The memorandum lists five demands: making the BFA entrance examination transparent and publishing marks and cut-offs; an independent inquiry into the 2026 entrance examination; action against guards and security personnel accused of assaulting students on August 25; removal of the chief proctor; an end to action against students participating in peaceful protests; and restrictions on police entry into the campus.

According to the memorandum, the students had given the administration 72 hours to act on their demands. However, the demands remain unmet, and the students have decided to hold another protest on September 9.

According to Kathyayani, university representatives told the students that an investigation had already been conducted and that it had not found anything. “We said that if an investigation had been conducted, the students should be told what came out of it. They said they would not show us the findings,” she said.

Careers360 had written to the BHU registrar but received no response till the time of publication, If and when they respond, this story will be updated.