BBAU UG Admission 2025-26: CUET-Based Process, Reservation Policy and Key Guidelines

Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Lucknow, has released its admission policy for undergraduate programs for the 2025–26 academic session, mandating admissions exclusively through the CUET (UG) score and its SAMARTH portal.

The policy emphasizes transparency, merit, reservation norms, and a phased, merit-list-based admission process. Key features include online registration, document verification, tie-breaking criteria, provisional and final physical verification, strict fee submission deadlines, and a one-time course change option. Paid seats are offered with potential upgrades but no fee refund, and financial assistance is available under the PM-Vidyalaxmi Scheme, subject to eligibility.

The university enforces UGC-aligned fee refund rules, a detailed reservation structure (SC/ST, EWS, PwD, sports quota, supernumerary seats), and mandates compliance with documentation and anti-ragging declarations. Admissions are liable to cancellation for false documents, missed deadlines, or incomplete verification, and students are encouraged to consult the university website or contact officials for guidance.

Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University Unveils Admission Policy for 2025-26 Undergraduate Programs

Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), a Central University established in 1998 in Lucknow, has officially released its Admission Policy for Under Graduate (UG) programmes for the academic session 2025-26. The policy, approved during the 82nd meeting of the Academic Council on June 17, 2025, sets the framework for admissions, emphasizing transparency, merit, and adherence to established reservation norms. The notification, dated June 26, 2025, has been circulated to all relevant departments and stakeholders within the university.

Key Admission Highlights: CUET UG and Online Process

A significant change highlighted in the new policy is that admission to all undergraduate programs will be made exclusively through the University’s SAMARTH portal and will be based on the CUET (UG) score. This streamlined approach aims to simplify the application process for prospective students.

The admission process will be conducted in a phase-wise manner, with merit lists and seat availability determining admissions, all in accordance with the reservation policies of both the University and the Government of India.

Detailed Admission Procedure

The admission procedure outlines several crucial steps for applicants:

1. CUET Score & BBAU Portal Registration: Admissions will be based on the CUET UG score. Candidates are required to register on the BBAU’s portal and lock their preferred courses once the CUET result is declared by NTA.
2. Merit List Generation: Following the completion of the registration process, category/course-wise merit lists will be prepared based on the candidates’ scores in the applicable CUET UG subjects. These lists will be uploaded on the University’s official website.
3. Tie-breaking Rules: In instances where two or more candidates secure the same marks in the entrance examination, the percentage of marks in the qualifying examination will be considered to break the tie. Should a further tie persist with equal marks in both the entrance and the last qualifying examination, the candidate’s date of birth will be used to decide the merit.
4. Provisional Online Verification: The Departmental Admission Committee (DAC) will conduct an online provisional verification of documents for candidates.
5. Fee Challan Generation: After successful provisional verification, the DAC will generate a challan for depositing fees.
6. Phase-wise Admissions & Fee Submission: Admissions will proceed phase by phase. The first phase will see a merit list declared for candidates equal to the number of advertised seats, who will then be called for fee submission. Any remaining seats will be filled in subsequent phases. The DAC will notify the list of candidates for whom challans have been generated on the University website. Fees can only be submitted online through the SAMARTH portal.
7. Adherence to Deadlines and Eligibility: Applicants must ensure they fulfill all eligibility criteria and possess the required documents. Providing misleading information will lead to admission cancellation. Strict adherence to deadlines is mandatory, as no claims will be entertained post-deadline. The schedule for various admission phases will be separately notified on the University website.
8. Reporting Vacant Seats: The DAC is responsible for submitting details of vacant seats to the Chairperson, Admission Monitoring Committee (AMC), immediately after the fee submission deadline for each phase.
9. Final Physical Verification and Confirmation: All provisional admissions will be confirmed by the DAC only after the physical verification of original documents when the provisionally admitted candidate reports to the department. Dates for this physical verification will be notified later on the University website. Following physical verification, the DAC will submit the list of admitted candidates to their respective Dean for approval. If the Head and Dean are the same, the list goes to Dean (AA) for approval. After all admissions are completed, departments must submit a comprehensive list of admitted candidates to Dean (AA) for record purposes.

Course Change Policy

The policy allows for a one-time change of course, either within the same School/Department or to another, provided the minimum eligibility criteria for both courses are identical. This change is strictly merit-based and subject to seat availability.

Candidates seeking a course change must submit an application to the Chairperson, Departmental Admission Committee (DAC) of both departments involved. Course changes will only be permitted after the completion of all counseling phases.

Paid Seats and Upgradation

The University will offer paid seats in regular UG programs. Admissions under this category will also be strictly based on merit and the willingness of the candidate, adhering to the University’s prescribed reservation criteria. Importantly, no fee concession will be granted to any candidate admitted under paid seats, irrespective of their category.

Should any regular seat become vacant after an admission phase, candidates previously admitted under the paid seat category will be upgraded to regular seats, and a further paid seat waiting list will be declared by the DAC. While an upgrade will occur, no fees will be refunded or adjusted for candidates granted admission on paid seats if the upgrade happens in subsequent counseling rounds.

However, all such upgraded candidates will pay regular fees from the next semester onwards. It is explicitly stated that fee refunds will not be allowed for the admitted semester if the upgradation is done after the completion of the admission process.

Financial Assistance and Disciplinary Actions

The PM-Vidyalaxmi Scheme is available at the University for education loans provided by scheduled commercial banks, cooperative banks, RRBs, and private banks. Both interest subvention and credit guarantee benefits under this scheme are admissible for degree/diploma programs. However, students availing any other Central/State Government Scholarship or any other interest subvention scheme or fee reimbursement will not be eligible for benefits under PM-Vidyalaxmi.

Furthermore, candidates against whom any disciplinary action has been taken at any stage in their earlier academic career at the University will not be admitted to any course.

Fees Submission and Refund Policy

Fees are to be submitted against a challan generated by the DAC after provisional document verification and strictly through the online mode on the SAMARTH portal. The DAC will notify students required to submit fees via the website, emphasizing that no additional time or day will be provided for fee submission. Students are advised to keep their fees ready to secure admission and avoid any complications.

Refund of fees will be governed in accordance with UGC rules and guidelines. The Head of Department will reconcile lists of candidates seeking cancellation and refunds with relevant documents, submitting them to the Finance Section within the UGC stipulated deadline.

Reservation Policy Breakdown

The University’s reservation policy is comprehensive:

SC/ST Reservation: 50% of the seats will be filled by Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe categories in a 2:1 ratio. Seats under the SC/ST category are interchangeable if candidates are not available in a given category.

EWS Reservation: Reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS certificate valid for one year) will be provided for seats allotted to this category, in accordance with MHRD letters and guidelines from regulatory bodies like PCI, NCTE, BCI, etc..

Physically Handicapped/Challenged (PwD): 5% of seats are reserved horizontally for PwD candidates. These candidates will be placed in their appropriate category (SC/ST/General) with necessary adjustments. Overall reservation will be applicable as per GOI/MOE/UGC policies issued periodically.

Merit List Preparation: Merit lists will be prepared based on total merit, irrespective of category. The Unreserved (UR) category merit list will comprise students from any category (UR/SC/ST/EWS/PwD) based on their merit.

Supernumerary Seats: These seats are available only as per directives of relevant statutory bodies like BCI, PCI, NCTE, etc., in such approved courses.

Fixed Seat Numbers: The number of seats is as provided in the admission prospectus 2024-25 and cannot be changed.

Defense Martyrs’ Supernumerary Seat: One supernumerary seat is available for the daughter/son of defense martyrs in Undergraduate (UG) courses, with the exception of courses governed by BCI, PCI, NCTE, and AICTE.

Sports Quota: The University provides a 5% supernumerary sports quota, based on qualification in a Physical Test and grading of National and above participation certificates, after the CUET (UG) examination.

Zero Fees Admission: The University offers admission on “Zero fees” to eligible candidates as per relevant notifications. Students admitted on zero fees will be required to submit fees after receiving their fellowship. If the fellowship is not released or granted for any reason, the candidate will be required to submit fees using their own resources.

Important Instructions for Students

Students are strongly advised to strictly follow the admission policy guidelines. The detailed number of seats for each program/course can be found in the admission prospectus 2025-26, available on the University website (www.bbau.ac.in).

Admission is liable to be cancelled under the following circumstances:

1. If the prescribed fees are not submitted on or before the due date.
2. If any document or information submitted is found to be false or misleading during physical verification.
3. If the original migration certificate and other relevant documents are not submitted before the prescribed deadline.

Students are advised to bring all original documents, relevant certificates in the prescribed GOI format, and an affidavit pertaining to anti-ragging declaration (Annexure-I) for physical verification at the time of joining the department. Original migration and character certificates must be submitted at the time of verification, failing which admission is liable to be cancelled. Candidates who appeared in their qualifying examination in the academic session 2023-24 must submit their final results during physical document verification.

For any grievances, students can email chairmanacmcbbau@gmail.com. For general queries, the University’s Toll-Free number (18001805789) can be contacted during office hours (10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday).

FAQs on BBAU UG Admission Policy 2025–26

What is the basis for admission to BBAU UG programs in 2025-26?
Admission will be based exclusively on CUET (UG) scores. No other entrance exam or criteria will be considered.

Where can I apply for BBAU UG admissions?
Applications must be submitted online through the BBAU SAMARTH portal available on the university website (www.bbau.ac.in).

Is there a centralized counseling process?
Yes, admissions will be conducted in a phase-wise manner through centralized merit lists prepared by the university.

How are merit lists prepared?
Merit lists are based on CUET (UG) scores in relevant subjects. Separate lists are generated category-wise and course-wise.

What happens in case of a tie in CUET scores?
Ties are broken first by marks in the qualifying exam, and if still unresolved, by the candidate’s date of birth.

What is the process of document verification?
Initial document verification is done online provisionally by the Departmental Admission Committee (DAC), followed by final physical verification.

When do I need to pay the admission fee?
Fees must be paid online through the SAMARTH portal after successful document verification and challan generation.

What happens if I fail to pay the fee on time?
Failure to pay the fee by the specified deadline will result in cancellation of the admission offer.

Are there paid seats available?
Yes, BBAU offers merit-based paid seats. However, no fee concession is applicable for candidates admitted under this category.

Can a student on a paid seat be upgraded to a regular seat?
Yes, if a regular seat becomes vacant, paid seat candidates may be upgraded, but fees already paid will not be refunded.

Is there a course change option?
Yes, students can apply for a one-time course change within or across departments, subject to eligibility and seat availability.

What is the reservation policy at BBAU?
SC/ST candidates receive 50% reservation in a 2:1 ratio, with additional reservations for EWS, PwD (5% horizontal), sports quota, and others as per GOI norms.

What is the process for supernumerary seats?
Supernumerary seats are available for categories like defense martyrs’ children, sports quota, and others, depending on regulatory approvals.

Does BBAU offer zero-fee admissions?
Yes, eligible students may be granted zero-fee admission, but they must pay fees later if the fellowship is not received.

Are scholarships or financial aid available?
Students may apply under the PM-Vidyalaxmi Scheme for education loans, but they cannot simultaneously receive other government scholarships.

What documents are required during verification?
Candidates must present original migration, character certificates, qualifying exam results, reservation certificates (in GOI format), and anti-ragging affidavits.

What if I appeared in the 2023-24 qualifying exam but don’t have my results yet?
You must submit your final results during the physical verification to confirm your admission.

How will I know if I’ve been selected for admission?
Merit lists and fee submission notifications will be posted on the BBAU website. Selected candidates will also receive updates via the SAMARTH portal.

Can I get a refund if I cancel my admission?
Fee refunds will follow UGC guidelines. Cancellations must be submitted with documentation to the Finance Section within the stipulated deadline.

Will my admission be canceled for incorrect information?
Yes, any false or misleading information or missing documents during verification will lead to cancellation.

What if I have a disciplinary record from a previous institution?
Candidates with any history of disciplinary action at BBAU will not be considered for admission.

Is there a helpdesk for admission-related queries?
Yes, students can email queries to chairmanacmcbbau@gmail.com or call the toll-free helpline at 18001805789 during working hours.

What is the timeline for admission phases and counseling?
The schedule for each phase will be notified separately on the official university website.

Are seat numbers fixed for each course?
Yes, the number of seats for each program is fixed as per the admission prospectus and cannot be changed.

Can PwD candidates avail category-based reservation benefits?
Yes, PwD candidates are placed in their respective categories (UR/SC/ST/EWS) with horizontal reservation adjustments.

How is the sports quota evaluated?
Candidates applying under the 5% sports quota must clear a physical test and provide participation certificates at the national level or above.

What is the validity period of the EWS certificate?
The EWS certificate must be valid for one year and issued in accordance with MHRD and regulatory body guidelines.