(1) Admission in the Cluster University shall be made strictly on the basis of merit.
(2) Merit for admission in the Cluster University may be determined either on the basis of marks or grade obtained in the qualifying examination for admission and achievements in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities or on the basis of marks or grade obtained in the entrance test conducted at the State level either by an association of the Universities conducting similar courses or by any agency of the State:
Provided that admission in professional and technical courses shall be made only through entrance test.
(3) Seats for admission in the Cluster University for the students belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes and handicapped students, shall be reserved as per the policy of the State Government.
(4) At least twenty five percent seats for admission to each course shall be reserved for students who are the Bonafide Himachalis.
(5) The Cluster University shall seek prior approval, as may be prescribed, in the Statutes for admitting new students in subsequent years in the existing courses or for starting new courses, which shall be subject to recommendations of the inspection committee set up for the purpose. This shall be applicable till the first batch of final year students are admitted.