In a major announcement, the University of Delhi (DU) has declared that students who have not studied Mathematics in Class XII will also be eligible for admission to the BCom (Hons) course for the 2025-26 session. The announcement follows weeks of rumors and fears that the second combination subject, under which students could pursue the Accountancy or Bookkeeping path for admission, would be scrapped.

The university released this statement on Saturday evening late, stating that the current eligibility criteria shall not be altered. This indicates that the students who did not take Mathematics in their senior secondary studies can still seek admission to BCom (Hons) under the second subject combination category. The undergraduate admissions info bulletin was released on DU’s official website late on March 8, 2025, clarifying the eligibility criteria for several courses.

DU has been implementing a two-subject combination pattern for admission to most of its undergraduate programmes since 2022, when the Common University Entrance Test (CUET-UG) came into effect. The university had synchronized its admission process with CUET-UG so that a standardized and merit-based selection process was in place for candidates. Under the present system, candidates who apply for admission to BCom (Hons) are given a choice of two combinations. The first combination necessitates one from List A languages, Mathematics or Applied Mathematics, and any two subjects from List B. The second combination, which has since been retained, involves one language from List A, Accountancy or Bookkeeping, and any two subjects from List B.

The retention of the second combination is likely to favor students who had chosen commerce-related subjects excluding Mathematics in Class XII. List A has 14 languages, while List B has 23 domain-specific topics, giving the students an ample variety of subject options. The confusion regarding the eligibility criteria had resulted in major unrest among students, parents, and teachers. Most feared that stripping away the second subject pair would leave students without Mathematics disadvantaged. Opponents contended that students would not have had much time to plan their subjects if the policy shift had been done, which could affect their career prospects. Nevertheless, experts in education maintained that any such adjustment should be phased in, enabling students to prepare in advance.

The assurance that the second combination of subjects does not change is a relief to thousands of hopefuls. If it were to be dropped, students who opted for Accountancy and other commerce subjects without Mathematics would have had to struggle a lot to get admitted to DU’s elite BCom (Hons) programme.

The DU information bulletin also gives information regarding the general eligibility criteria for undergraduate admissions. As per the bulletin, students need to pass the Class XII examination or its equivalent from a recognized board to be considered for admission to 78 undergraduate programmes in different disciplines. These are Arts, Commerce, Science, Technology, Management, Vocational Studies, and Fine Arts.

Moreover, CUET-UG marks will continue to be a compulsory requirement for admissions in all undergraduate programmes, excluding students applying under the School of Open Learning (SOL), Non-Collegiate Women’s Education Board (NCWEB), and foreign nationals categories. The entrance examination ensures a standardized testing process for candidates from various educational backgrounds.

The furor over the possible elimination of the second subject combination underscored the dilemma between academic quality and accessibility confronting universities. Most concerned parties had cited that Mathematics was certainly a worthy subject for students of commerce, particularly those intending to pursue a career in finance, accounting, and economics. Nevertheless, they also stressed that eliminating the option would have been unfairly limiting the opportunities of students who performed exceptionally well in other commerce subjects but not in Mathematics.

This move by DU is part of its larger strategy of maintaining inclusivity in higher education with academic rigor. By retaining the current eligibility standards, the university has recognized the varied academic streams of commerce students and provided them with multiple entry points to a BCom (Hons) degree.

The move has been received with optimism by students and parents, who had been eagerly waiting for the issue to be clarified. Some students said they were relieved, as the fact that the second subject combination is being retained means they do not have to re-plan their admission. Teachers have also appreciated the move, saying it provides more flexibility and ensures that more able students can apply for the programme.

While DU prepares for the 2025-26 academic year, candidates who wish to apply for undergraduate programmes should keep themselves posted on official announcements and prepare for CUET-UG. The university shall publish additional information about the admission process, the deadline, and seat allotment in the next few months.