After the Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) of Delhi University set an almost unachievable target of 100% for students with a non-commerce background, the principal of the college, P C Jain, told Governance Now he doesn't find anything irrational with this decision. "Unfortunately the students have performed very well this year therefore we have declared such a cut-off. We are also confident on getting a good turn out on it," he said.

At a press conference in the capital, Kapil Sibal, the human resource development (HRD) minister said that such a cut off is an irrational decision and it will affect the credibility of the entire education system. "We don't intend to interfere but we should change the situation through legislation. It is an irrational decision and the vice chancellor (VC) and colleges should take note of it," he said.

The minister requested the university and its colleges to fix rational cut-offs for admission in the interest of the children to ensure the purpose of education is met. “This is a systemic and policy issue and should be looked into," he added.

The VC of Delhi University, Dinesh Singh, said that all the colleges have an autonomy to decide their own cut-offs. Justifying the cut-off by SRCC, the VC said, "A lot of students have got 95 percent and above. Last year, we had just two students, and this year we have about 800 students." He said that since there were four more lists to come out, the students should not panic.

While students with a science background wishing to get admitted in the SRCC are disappointed and call the 100% cut off obscene.

Rahul, a science student with 95.25 percent said, "100% cut off is unheard off, it's jsut obscene. Such a cut off tells me loud and clear that I don't deserve to get admitted here, not in the first list atleast. How can you set such a high benchmark. It's absurd."

On the other hand, Shefali from Bukaro has scored a 99.65 percent is confident on getting it in SRCC and said, "I think it is important to pitch it high. Last year, they saw a 99.25 percent cut off, this year it is 100 percent, what is the big deal? Students have scored such marks and will still make it."

The first cut-off list for undergraduate courses was put up at the university's website on Tuesday night. The percentages for all courses saw an upward trend.

The list for the academic year 2011-2012 was put on the university's website www.du.ac.in late Tuesday evening.

The list put up includes cut-offs for general category and other backward classes (OBC) for colleges in north, south and off campus colleges with the courses and subjects they offer.

The cut-off for Science course in DU went as high as 96 percent for Physics honors for open category in Hansraj college and 92 percent for OBC. And the lowest went down to 75 percent in off campus colleges, Shivaji, Rajdhani and Kalindi.

Shri Ram College of Commerce set a target of 96 to 100 percent for open category students and 94 to 98 percent for OBC in Commerce and the lowest was 61 percent in Ram Lal Anand college for open category and 56 for OBC.

In the Arts stream, Shri Ram College of Commerce with Economics honors has the first cut-off of 95.25 percent to 98.25 percent for open category and 93.25 to 96.25 percent for OBC. The lowest was set by Sri Aurobindo East which is 72 percent to 82 for the open category and 72 to 77 percent for OBC.

This year's cut-off percentage was decided by the CBSE results and the past years cut off marks in respective colleges.

The first cut-off for the SC/ST will be put up at 2.00 pm and also be updated on the University website.

Since this year has seen no pre-admission forms, so the process of admissions for the students under the first cut-off list with begin from June 16.

Four days are assigned for the admissions, June 16, 17, 18, 20 from 9 am to 1 pm. Students are expected to fill the respective college form and the university form and deposit the fees in the college during these days. 

Students should carry originals of their Class X and XII mark sheets and pass provisional certificates along with their migration and transfer certificates. Two sets of photocopies of the certificates attested by a gazetted officer are also required. 

Unlike other colleges of Delhi University, St Stephens will put up their first cut-off list on June 16 at 10 am in the college campus and also upload the list on their website.