New Delhi: The first day of the academic session at Delhi University (DU) is usually a whirlwind of laughter, chaos and overflowing energy. However, this year, the 2025-26 session opened on a surprisingly quiet note. The streets of North Campus were not as crowded, the canteens had shorter queues, and the usual buzz of freshers flooding the lawns and lanes seemed noticeably muted.There were a few theories behind this shift. One reason, many believed, was the delay in final admission confirmations. A large number of outstation students only received their seats a day before, on Thursday, making it nearly impossible to pack up and make it to Delhi in time for orientation. Others pointed to the new staggered orientation schedules and stricter crowd management protocols colleges adopted, which kept the numbers on campus in check.Yet, despite the calmer-than-usual atmosphere, the spirit of the new batch remained unmistakably bright. Colleges did their bit to make the newcomers feel special—roses, bright tikas and warm smiles greeted freshers as they stepped onto campus, wide-eyed and hopeful.Riya, a first-year student from Palwal, Haryana, could not hide her excitement. “I set my heart on SRCC for BCom (hons), but I am still thrilled to be in North Campus. Ramjas was my fourth preference, and getting in feels like a win.” Her enthusiasm echoed that of many others, for whom simply entering the DU ecosystem was a dream come true.Manya, another fresher, is already thinking ahead. “This was my sixth preference, but I am happy. I want to work in the corporate sector, and DU is the first step in that direction. I am also planning to join the commerce and drama societies—I have heard great things about them.”A quiet but emotional parallel scene was playing out just outside the college gates. Parents, many of whom travelled straight from railway stations or bus depots, were seen waiting patiently with luggage in tow. For Prachi, the first day at DU was not just about stepping into college—it was about stepping into her power. “Disability does not define me,” she said with quiet strength, standing outside Miranda House, where she secured admission under the persons with disabilities category. It was her dream college, and she got in. Born with a short limb, Prachi never let her condition set the limits of her ambition. “Some people see it as a barrier, but I have always chosen to see it as just one part of my story,” she said.At colleges like Miranda House, seven different venues were designated for departmental orientation sessions to ensure smooth crowd management. To accommodate parents and guardians—who were not allowed inside the college premises—large display screens were installed at key locations, allowing them to watch the sessions live. The orientation familiarised students with college policies, including information on anti-ragging helplines, the internal complaints committee, and the sexual harassment redressal mechanism.At Ramjas College and Kirori Mal College (KMC), departmental orientations were conducted on Friday, while a common orientation for all programmes is scheduled for Monday and Saturday, respectively. The principals said they were expecting a larger turnout on those days.“This year, the crowd appeared to be subdued primarily because of the staggered orientation schedule,” said Dinesh Khattar, principal of KMC. “Also, many outstation students received their admission confirmations late and may not have been able to plan their travel in advance. Plus, with the first day falling on a Friday ahead of the weekend, a lot of students are likely to join from Monday.”As of 6 pm on Aug 1, Delhi University confirmed the admission of 71,366 undergraduate students under Round 2 of its admission process. The university’s latest update showed that 136 orphaned candidates and 942 single girl children secured admission across various colleges and programmes—categories given special consideration under the university’s inclusive policies. Of the total confirmed admissions, 31,046 candidates froze their seats, choosing not to participate in further rounds of seat allocation. Meanwhile, 36,663 students opted for an upgrade, indicating their preference for a higher-priority course or college in the upcoming round.The deadline for fee payment, initially set for earlier in the evening, was extended till 11:59 pm on Aug 1 to accommodate pending transactions and ensure a smooth admission process. University officials said this extension was aimed at addressing payment delays and technical issues reported by some candidates.DU also announced the schedule for third round of admissions, including provisions for mid-entry—which allows candidates, who did not register earlier, to join the process.