Interview for all applicants, no discrimination between students: St Stephen’s College tells DU VC

NEW DELHI: Delhi University’s St Stephen’s College has communicated to the Vice-chancellor Yogesh Singh and concerned officials that it will conduct an interview for all applicants who will be shortlisted by the College from the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) list and “there shall be no discrimination between minority and non-minority applicants with respect to the 85% + 15% formula for admission to college.”

In an official press release, the College said that admissions will be based on 85% weightage to CUET and 15% weightage to the interview. “This is the admission process - time-tested, proven and guaranteed through a landmark judgment delivered by the highest court of the land - that will be followed for admission to the college,” it said.

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St Stephen’s College will follow the CUET mandate of DU and all applicants will have to take the CUET exam administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA). It is the minimum eligibility criteria for admission to St Stephen’s and will be strictly followed, the College said.

The press release came in response to “some unverified reports being circulated in the media regarding admissions to St Stephen’s College”.

St Stephen’s College vs DU

On April 15, Singh said the university does not want any confrontation and will resolve the issue through dialogue as St Stephen’s College announced that it will conduct interviews carrying 15% weightage for admission to all categories. "We do not want any confrontation and will work it out. We are not challenging their legal authority but will discuss things with them and find a solution," Singh had told PTI.

In an admission notice posted on its website, St Stephen's College said it will give 85% weightage to CUET scores and 15% to interviews for admissions for all categories of students. The college also said that it reserves the right to proceed with admissions as per its own admission policy guaranteed to it as a minority institution. The college reserves 50% of its seats for general candidates and remaining for Christian students.

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Singh had directed that for the general seats, the college should solely take CUET scores into consideration, while for minority seats, it can hold interviews and assign a weightage of 85% to CUET scores and the rest to interviews.

Last month, the University Grants Commission made CUET score mandatory for admissions to all 45 central universities in the country.