The University of Delhi (DU) has published the Round 1 allocation and admission details for undergraduate admissions 2026-27 under the Extra-Curricular Activities (ECA) category. This announcement includes the maximum and minimum Combined ECA Merit (CEM) scores at which colleges were allocated seats across multiple ECA categories.
The ECA cutoff scores cover a wide range of activities such as creative writing, dance, debate, digital media, fine arts, music, theatre, quiz, divinity, NCC, NSS, and yoga. The university has also specified which colleges admitted students with the highest and lowest CEM scores in each category.
Understanding the ECA Admission Process at Delhi University
The ECA admission process at DU is designed to evaluate candidates based on a combination of their academic and extracurricular achievements. The Combined ECA Merit (CEM) score is calculated by taking 25% of the candidate's highest programme-specific score from the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) UG 2026 and 75% of their highest ECA score from the categories they applied for.
Admissions are determined by the CEM merit list, candidates' preferences for colleges and courses, and the availability of ECA seats in each college. This method aims to balance academic performance with extracurricular excellence, providing opportunities for students who excel beyond traditional academics.
Key Cutoff Scores and College Allocations by ECA Category
The university released detailed data showing the highest and lowest CEM scores for each ECA category along with the colleges where those scores were recorded. Some notable highlights include:
- Creative Writing (Hindi): Highest score 3468.936 at Hansraj College; lowest 2407.113 at Zakir Hussain Delhi College (Evening).
- Dance (Indian Classical): Highest score 3850.370 at Hindu College; lowest 2927.483 at PGDAV (Evening) College.
- Debate (English): Highest score 3668.331 at Shri Ram College of Commerce; lowest 2867.710 at Shyam Lal College (Evening).
- Instrumental Western Keyboard: Highest score 3817.427 at Lady Shri Ram College; lowest 1768.231 at PGDAV (Evening) College.
- Theatre: Highest score 3689.376 at Lady Shri Ram College; lowest 2157.374 at Zakir Hussain Delhi College (Evening).
- Yoga: Highest score 3567.802 at Shri Ram College of Commerce; lowest 2747.466 at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee College.
The list also includes other categories such as digital media (photography, filmmaking, animation), fine arts (sketching, painting, sculpture), music (vocal and instrumental), quiz, divinity, NCC, and NSS, each with their respective highest and lowest CEM scores and college allocations.
What These Cutoffs Mean for Prospective Students
The publication of Round 1 ECA cutoffs provides clarity for applicants on the level of performance needed to secure admission under the ECA quota at various colleges within Delhi University. Students can assess their chances based on their CEM scores and the colleges they prefer.
Since the CEM score heavily weighs extracurricular achievements, students with strong talents in areas like dance, music, debate, or theatre have a significant advantage. However, the inclusion of 25% of the CUET score ensures that academic ability remains a factor.
Applicants should also note that some sub-categories were excluded from the list due to lack of eligible candidates or absence of seats in colleges. The university encourages students to report any discrepancies in the published data promptly to ensure accurate admission processing.
Ultimately, the final admission decisions rest with the university and are subject to verification and compliance with admission rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How is the Combined ECA Merit (CEM) score calculated?
A: The CEM score is calculated by combining 25% of the candidate's highest programme-specific CUET UG 2026 score with 75% of their highest ECA score from the categories they applied for. The total score is out of 4,000.
Q: Which ECA categories are included in the DU UG admissions?
A: Categories include creative writing, dance (Indian classical, folk, western, choreography), debate (Hindi and English), digital media (photography, filmmaking, animation), fine arts, music (vocal and instrumental), theatre, quiz, divinity, NCC, NSS, and yoga.
Q: Can students apply for multiple ECA categories?
A: Yes, candidates can apply for multiple ECA categories, but their highest ECA score among those categories is used in the CEM calculation for admission consideration.
