Delhi University Introduces Class 10 Marks in Tie-Breaker for UG Admission 2025

CUET UG score remains primary criterion; tie-breaking policy to resolve admission rank overlaps in top programmes

Delhi University had earlier announced a revised tie-breaking policy for its undergraduate (UG) admissions 2025 cycle, introducing Class 10 marks as part of the criteria to resolve admission ties. This policy, implemented under the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS-UG) 2025, is being applied for the first time this year. With the CUET UG score as the primary admission criterion, the new mechanism will help differentiate between candidates who secure identical CUET scores, especially in highly sought-after programmes such as BCom (Hons), BA Economics, and Political Science.

As per the CSAS-UG 2025 bulletin released last month, the tie-breaker will follow a defined order. In case of a tie in CUET UG scores for a given course and college, preference will be given first to the candidate with higher marks in Class 12 (best of three subjects). If the tie persists, the higher aggregate marks in Class 10 will be considered, followed by the older age of the candidate, and lastly, alphabetical order of the first name.

With the CSAS portal now live and simulated ranks issued based on submitted preferences, the tie-breaker rule has gained fresh relevance. Students have been advised to review and reorder their college and programme choices accordingly before the preference editing window closes on July 16, 2025.

A senior DU official stated that the university witnessed a rise in CUET UG applicants with nearly identical percentiles, especially in top humanities and commerce courses. “This year’s change ensures that students with a consistently strong academic record are rewarded when CUET scores alone cannot differentiate them,” the official explained.

Applicants are advised to ensure their Class 10 and Class 12 academic records are accurately entered in the CSAS portal, and that all relevant documents are uploaded for verification. The university has also reiterated that performance-based and supernumerary category admissions will continue to have their own evaluation criteria, but the tie-breaker rule applies across general merit-based admissions.

For regular updates on Delhi University UG admissions 2025, candidates should refer to the CSAS portal (ugadmission.uod.ac.in) and the university’s official notifications.