The University of Delhi (DU) has commenced undergraduate admissions for 1,370 seats under the extra-curricular activities (ECA) quota for the 2026-27 academic session. This initiative provides students with an alternative pathway to secure admission based on achievements in cultural, literary, artistic, and community-based activities, complementing their academic performance.
Admission Process and Weightage
Admissions will be conducted through the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS-UG 2026), and only candidates who have appeared for the CUET (UG) 2026 examination are eligible. The selection criteria combine academic scores with talent assessment: 25% weightage is given to the candidate's CUET (UG) 2026 score, while 75% weightage is assigned to ECA certificates, performance trials, and practical evaluations conducted by the university.
Categories and Seat Distribution
This year, the ECA quota covers 14 categories, including theatre, Indian classical and folk dance, vocal and instrumental music, debate, creative writing, photography, painting, filmmaking, choreography, yoga, NCC, and NSS. Indian classical dance offers the highest number of seats at 125, followed by theatre with 123 seats and Indian vocal music with 109 seats. Additionally, DU has reserved seats for specialized disciplines such as western flute, sarod, Indian violin, sculpture, and animation.
Participating Colleges
Several prominent DU colleges will offer admissions under the ECA quota across various disciplines. These include Hindu College, Hansraj College, Kirori Mal College, Miranda House, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Sri Venkateswara College, Gargi College, and Ramjas College, among others.
The ECA quota aims to recognize and nurture talent beyond academics, providing a holistic admission opportunity. According to a university official, the process ensures that students with exceptional extracurricular achievements can leverage their skills to gain entry into one of India's premier institutions.
