The University of Delhi invites applications from thousands of students every year for admission to its various undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Although the number of seats varies every year, DU usually offers around 70,000 seats for UG courses and around 13,000 seats for PG courses across 82 colleges including all categories of students like Kashmiri migrants and admission under Defence Quota.
Until 2021, admissions to Delhi University colleges in a majority of the UG courses offered were based on class 12th marks, except for the following courses:
- BA (Hons) Multimedia and Mass Communication
- Bachelor of Elementary Education
- BSc Physical Education, Health Education & Sports Sciences
- BA (Hons) Humanities and Social Sciences
- Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS)
- BBA Financial Investment Analysis (FIA)
- BA (Hons) Business Economics
- BTech (IT & Mathematical Innovations)
These courses could be pursued only after clearing a nationwide entrance test called DUET (Delhi University Entrance test), whose score was acceptable by 51 colleges of DU.
However, from 2022 onwards this entire merit system of admissions to UG courses was replaced by CUET (Common University Entrance Test), a national common eligibility test contemplated in the new National Education Policy. This has resulted in minor changes in admission under Defence Quota in DU.
Defence Quota Admissions to DU under CUET
CUET is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and its score is accepted by over 250 universities across the country, including 44 Central universities. The primary objective behind introducing an online national entrance test was to eliminate the biases involved in the marking schemes of different state boards and to provide an equal platform for students to compete.
Just like other government exams, CUET is also saturated with quotas and reservations for people from different backgrounds, however, it is comparatively more sophisticated.
Besides providing reservations on the grounds of caste and income classes (as laid down in the Constitution), DU also reserves a fixed percentage of supernumerary seats (over and above the total number of seats announced) for different groups of students.
These seats are not drawn from the total listed seats, are additional or supernumerary, and admission to these seats is usually held at the end (after the general round of allocating seats to unreserved and caste/income-based reserved students). Let’s now know about admission under Defence Quota in DU.
Who can get Admission under Supernumerary Seats at DU?
The benefit of supernumerary seats can be availed by the following categories of students for admission to both, UG and PG courses at DU:
- PwBD – Persons with Benchmark Disabilities
- CW – Children/Widows of Personnel of the Armed Forces including Para-Military
- ECA – Extra-Curricular Activities
- Sports
- KM – Kashmiri Migrants
- PMSS – Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship for Jammu and Kashmir
- SS – Nominated Sikkimese Students
- WQ – Ward Quota of Employees of the University of Delhi
Here, we shall be thoroughly discussing the CW popularly known as the Defence quota under the supernumerary system of reservation.
Defence Quota Admission in DU: Supernumerary Seats under CW
The CW or the Armed Forces quota reserves seats specifically for the wards of defence and other paramilitary personnel. An interesting feature here is the manner of intake of students to various colleges of DU.
List of 9 Priorities under Defence Quota Admission
There are nine priorities under which the students are categorised, and those at a higher priority are allotted seats first.
Priority I – Widows/Wards of Defence personnel killed in action;
Priority II – Wards of Defence Personnel disabled in action and boarded out from service with disability attributable to military service;
Priority III – Widows/Wards of Defence Personnel who died while in service with death attributable to military service;
Priority IV – Wards of Defence Personnel disabled in service and boarded out with disability attributable to military service;
Priority V – Wards of Ex-servicemen and Serving personnel, including personnel of police forces who receive Gallantry Awards;
- ParamVir Chakra
- Ashok Chakra
- Mahavir Chakra
- Kirti Chakra
- Vir Chakra
- Shaurya Chakra
- President’s Police Medal for Gallantry/President Gallantry Medal for the fire services personnel
- Sena Medal (Gallantry), Nau Sena Medal (Gallantry), Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry)
- Mention-in-Despatches
- Police Medal for Gallantry/Gallantry Medal for fire services
Priority VI – Wards of Ex-Servicemen.
Priority VII – Wives of:
- Defence personnel were disabled in action and boarded out from service.
- Defence personnel disabled in service and boarded out with disability attributable to military service
- Ex-servicemen and serving personnel who receive Gallantry Awards.
Priority VIII – Wards of Serving Personnel
Priority IX – Wives of Serving Personnel
How to Get Admission to Delhi University under Defence Quota?
Generally, 5% of the total seats in each college and each course are reserved under the CW category for admission under Defence Quota in DU. Before the implementation of CUET, admission under the CW category was solely on a priority basis, with no regard to the marks secured by the students in their class 12th.
Therefore, a student with even passing marks could secure a seat at some of the most prestigious colleges, provided he/she belonged to a higher priority. Even after the introduction of CUET, candidates in priorities I – V have a greater chance of securing a good college at even a lower score. There is no category-specific rank given in the case of CW quota.
Documents Needed for Admission under Defence Quota in DU
For admission under the CW category, candidates are required to have an Educational Concession Certificate (ECC) issued by one of the following authorities:
- Secretary, Kendriya Sainik Board, Delhi,
- Secretary, Rajya Zila Sainik Board,
- Officer-in-Charge, Record Officer,
- 1st Class Stipendiary Magistrate,
- Ministry of Home Affairs (For Police Personnel in receipt of Gallantry Awards).
For the wards of serving Army/Navy/Air Force officials, ECC issued by the IHQ (MoD), New Delhi is also acceptable. The format of the ECC should not defer from the one that DU prescribes every year at the time of admission.
Conclusion
The CW or the armed forces quota provides a wonderful opportunity for the wards of defence personnel to study at some of the best colleges of DU, both at UG and PG levels.
Since it is supernumerary, it does not affect the seats of the general students or any other category of students.
FAQs
Q1. How is the admission process different for Defence Quota applicants?
The admission process for Defence Quota applicants follows a specific set of guidelines. Candidates must meet the eligibility criteria, and their selection may involve additional considerations, such as interviews or physical fitness assessments.
Q2. What documents are required for Defence Quota admission?
Along with the standard admission documents, Defence Quota applicants may need to provide proof of their relationship with the defence personnel, such as a service certificate or dependent card.
Q3. Are there specific courses under Defence Quota, or is it applicable to all programs?
Defence Quota is generally applicable to a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses offered by Delhi University. However, the availability of seats may vary across different programs.
Q4. How are seats allocated under the Defence Quota?
The allocation of seats under the Defence Quota is based on merit and the fulfilment of eligibility criteria. Candidates are selected based on their priorities as mentioned in the article.
Q5. Can Defence Quota applicants apply for multiple courses?
Yes, Defence Quota applicants can apply for multiple courses, but they must ensure that they meet the eligibility criteria for each chosen program. The admission process for each course will be independent of the others.
