BHU BFA Admission 2026: Why Students Are Raising Questions
Protests erupt over the 2026 admission to Banaras Hindu University's BFA program, as aspirants seek answers about their practical exam scores, and doubt the method of scoring. There is a dispute about the 400-mark practical test of the BFA entrance exam. According to students, some students who appeared more than once and scored very well in the practical test last year, scored very poorly this year, even though they had been preparing for this exam for one more year. There are student grievances, and BHU has not made any such findings
There is now more to this than individual score grievances, as candidates claim for more transparency in the evaluation process, publishing of cut-offs, and independent review.
What Is the BHU BFA Entrance Exam Pattern?
BHU 2026 admission confirms that the BFA is a practical-test-based undergraduate program, where final merit is decided based on the CUET-UG score and the practical exam conducted by BHU.
The practical test of the BFA carries 400 marks, and the rest, i.e. 250 marks, are for the theory. This practically based examination is, therefore, the larger and more important part of the assessment, as it covers 650 marks.
The BFA program offers specialisations in:
- Applied Arts
- Painting
- Plastic Arts
- Pottery and Ceramics
- Textile Design
As per BHU’s official admission notification, Fine Arts/Visual Arts is the relevant subject under CUET for BFA admission.
Practical Examination Held on August 9
BHU set the date for the BFA practical test as August 9. A notice was published on August 5, and candidates were instructed to download their admit cards through the BHU admission portal.
First, the allotment of BFA/BPA was published on August 25, and the second allotment was done on August 29. As of now, BHU's admission portal has BFA/BPA Round 2 for the admission process of 2026, with the last date for payment of the admission fee as August 31.
Students Compare 2025 and 2026 Scores
Candidates shared comparisons of practical scores of some students with earlier exams. According to the comparisons of students shared by Careers360, Gautam Kumar, who had scored 365 marks previously, scored 240 marks this time; Akash Kumar scored 350 marks previously and scored 254 marks this time; Zoya Fatima scored 330 marks and scored 248 marks, and Prajukta Mallick scored 310 marks and scored 177 marks this time.
Students believe such huge variations require an explanation, especially for candidates appearing for the exam for the second time. Although such variations in practical scores, over the years, do not indicate manipulations in the evaluations, students demand proof of the evaluation methodology and a reasonable demand for scrutiny of the results by BHU.
Candidates Want to See Their Evaluated Drawings and Practical Copies
Access to evaluated practical submissions is also a large concern among applicants. Many applicants do not have access to their drawn or practical copies. They explain that this makes it impossible to know why marks were awarded and whether or not the assessment was a fair representation of their work.
Applicants have also asked BHU to publish cut-offs instead of solely dependant on individual admission requests.
Allegations Against a Coaching Institute
Additionally, applicants have made other complaints regarding some applicants connected to a private fine arts training academy in Varanasi. In reports by Careers360, some applicants believe applicants connected to this academy obtained exceptionally high practical marks and consequently, admissions. There are also complaints regarding this academy and the university.
These complaints must remain allegations until proven otherwise. Per Careers360, BHU had not submitted comments to their requests at the time of publication.
August 25 Protest Heightens Conflict
The dispute continued with a protest outside the BHU Central Office on August 25.
On August 27, a memorandum to the vice-chancellor stated that the security and proctorial staff pushed protesting students away from the office, and some students were beaten, and a female student was injured. The students also stated that they want:
- Publishing BFA marks and cut-off scores
- A thorough and independent examination of the 2026 entrance process
- Action against security staff for alleged assault
- Improved transparency in the evaluation process
- The publication of all findings reports from investigations
Protection of students in peaceful protests
BHU Admission Status: What the University Has Published
The official BHU admission portal states that for admissions to BFA, CUET-UG is required along with a practical examination. It states that the BFA practical examination was scheduled for August 9. After releasing notifications for admissions, BHU released BFA/BPA Round 1 and Round 2 notifications. The university's reporting schedule also states that the physical reporting of BPA/BFA candidates is scheduled for September 5, 2026, at the reporting centres.
As of now, student demands for an independent examination and allegations of manipulation in the practical evaluation are the major points of concern. BHU's published admission notices state the examination and allotment processes.
Final Thoughts
The controversy surrounding BHU BFA Admission 2026 is largely a concern for transparency. Students are looking beyond the individual marks. They want to understand how a 400-mark practical exam was internally assessed and why some repeat candidates scored very differently from the previous year.
The official documents of BHU clearly state that the practical exam is a major component of the admission process for the BFA and that the practical exam for 2026 was conducted on 9th August. The question that is yet to be answered is whether the university will address the specific concerns of the students on evaluation, show them their evaluated work, and disclose the internal review report. Until that is done, the accusations of manipulation or bias should be seen as statements by the students until they are substantiated.
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