DU removes 5 subjects from ‘List-B’; how to opt for CUET subject combinations?

NEW DELHI: The University of Delhi has removed five subjects from the domain-specific subjects list for undergraduate (UG) admission for the academic year 2025-26. The 5 subjects excluded from the list are legal studies, engineering graphics, teacher training, entrepreneurship, and knowledge tradition and practices of India.

It has also made it mandatory for students to appear in only those CUET subjects studied in Class 12 to be eligible for admission.

CUET exam has undergone a major rejig after it was marred by technical glitches in the past years. Unlike last year, the number of subjects has been reduced by half, from 63 to 37. The admission for the dropped subjects will be done based on the score obtained in the General Aptitude Test (GAT), UGC chairman Jagadesh Kumar said while announcing the changes for this year’s exam.

Despite the UGC chairman relaxing the norms and allowing students to sit for papers they have not studied in higher secondary , the Delhi University has instructed students to appear in only those subjects that they studied in Class 12. Jagadesh Kumar had explained the decision to reduce the number of subjects was made in an effort “to cross over the rigid disciplinary boundaries in higher education".

DU Admissions 2025: How to opt for CUET subjects?

“For the purpose of ascertaining Program Specific Eligibility and for mapping the CUET subject(s) with Class XII subject(s), marksheet of more than one recognized board may be considered provided the candidate has passed those subjects in Class XII,” the DU admission 2025 brochure read.

The domain specific subjects have been categorised into two - List A and List B. Unlike last year, where the university had 27 subjects in List B1 and B2 alone, the number of subjects has been reduced to 22. List A has 14 languages. The 5 subjects removed from the List B are legal studies, engineering graphics, teacher training, entrepreneurship, and knowledge tradition and practices of India.

Students will have to opt for the CUET subjects that they have studied in Class 12. In case the subject they studied is not mentioned in the CUET 2025 list, they are required to appear in the language/ domain specific subject that is similar to the subject that they studied.

For example, if a candidate has studied biochemistry in Class 12, she or he must appear in biology paper in CUET 2025.

“For establishing similarity of CUET (UG) subjects with subjects taken in Class XII, at least 50% of the syllabus should match. The University reserves the right for establishing the similarity,” the university said in the DU admission brochure.

“Allocation and admission will be based only on the combination of Language/s, Domain Specific Subjects and/or General Aptitude Test (GAT) in which a candidate has appeared in CUET (UG) – 2025 as per the respective Program-Specific Eligibility,” it added.

Also read 8 topics deleted from CUET syllabus 2025 for science subjects; central universities offering PCM courses

DU admission through CUET

The University Grants Commission (UGC) introduced CUET, a single entrance exam for admission to UG, PG courses, for admission to central universities and state universities and to reduce burden on students, Kumar reiterated recently. Currently, a total of 304 central, state, private, deemed and other universities have adopted CUET for the selection process.

Delhi University has 91 colleges, 86 departments, 16 faculties, and over 6.5 lakh students. Students who have passed Class 12 or equivalent exam will be eligible to apply for admission provided they qualify the CUET exam.

Notably, some DU teachers have been opposing the decision to admit students on the basis of CUET score, citing the paper leak and mismanagement allegations leveled on the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the entrance exam.

As per the latest updates, the NTA will close the CUET UG registrations 2025 on March 22. Candidates will have to submit the application fee and form through the official website, cuet.nta.nic.in, before the last date. The CUET exam is scheduled to be held from May 8 to June 1.