BHU BFA Admission 2026: Candidates Allege Practical Exam Manipulation, Demand Inquiry

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) candidates at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, are raising serious concerns over the practical examination scores for the 2026 admission session, alleging manipulated evaluation. The first-round selection list, released on August 25, 2026, sparked immediate protests at BHU’s central office, with students demanding transparency and an independent inquiry into the marking process.

The core of the students’ grievance revolves around the practical examination, which carries 400 out of a total of 650 marks for the BHU BFA entrance test. Many candidates who had scored above 300 in the practical component in 2025 reportedly saw their scores drastically reduced to as low as 177 or 120 in 2026.

Students also allege preferential marking for candidates from a specific coaching institute, further fueling demands for accountability from the university’s Central Admission Committee (CAC) and Faculty of Visual Arts.

BHU BFA 2026: Allegations of Score Manipulation

Candidates cited several year-on-year differences in their BHU BFA practical marks, with some reporting significant drops compared with 2025 scores.

Student Demands and Protests

Following the release of the first-round selection list on August 25, 2026, BFA candidates immediately initiated a protest at BHU’s central office. This protest also addressed an alleged assault on students by security personnel on the same day. Archana, another affected candidate, articulated the collective concern: “The main concern among students is the practical examination. We do not understand the basis on which the marks have been given.”

Students submitted a memorandum to the BHU vice-chancellor on August 27, 2026, detailing their grievances and demanding an inquiry. A key demand is the disclosure of practical examination answer sheets, as highlighted by Bandana Gupta: “The biggest issue is that our practical copies are not shown to us. If we could see our drawings or copies, we could compare them with the marks we received.”

Kathyayani, a leader of the Bhagat Singh Students Morcha, reported that university officials refused to disclose the findings of any internal investigation. She stated “We said that if an investigation had been conducted, the students should be told what came out of it. They said they would not show us the findings.”

BHU BFA Admission: Fee Structure and Program Details

The BFA degree at BHU Varanasi is a four-year undergraduate program. The non-refundable CAP-UG registration fee for General/OBC(NCL)/EWS candidates is ₹500, while SC/ST/PwBD candidates pay ₹250. The university observed Anti-Ragging Awareness Week 2026 from August 12 to 18, coinciding with the period following the practical examinations and preceding the result announcement. Students continue to await a formal response from BHU authorities regarding their allegations and demands for an inquiry into the BFA practical examination scores.

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

View all posts →