Over 70% of UG seats remain vacant in West Bengal state colleges—explore the main reasons, admission cycle delays, OBC reservation effects, expert views, and possible solutions at quickjobalert.in.
Why Over 70% Of UG Seats Remain Vacant in State-Run Colleges of West Bengal: Factors, Challenges, and What’s Next
More than 70% of first-year undergraduate (UG) seats in state-run colleges of West Bengal remain vacant even after two rounds of centralized counselling. According to the latest data from the Higher Education Department, out of 9,36,215 UG seats, just 2,69,777 students have been admitted—that’s only 28.81% of the available seats filled in 2025, far below the previous year’s figures when 4.44 lakh seats were filled. Experts, college leaders, and student bodies have weighed in on the problem, raising concerns for public-funded higher education in the state. quickjobalert.in
What Are the Main Reasons for Unfilled Seats?
1. Delays in Admission Process
- The UG admission cycle in West Bengal was pushed back due to legal wrangling over the OBC reservation list, following Supreme Court intervention. Slow admissions led many students to lose patience and turn to private and autonomous colleges or other alternatives.
2. Difficulties With Centralized Counselling
- The fully centralized online admission process created confusion among students, some of whom struggled to navigate the system. This digital barrier resulted in missed opportunities for hundreds of eligible candidates.
3. Shifting Preferences & Subject Trends
- Students are increasingly choosing professional courses, private colleges, and newer subjects. Traditional disciplines such as Economics and Statistics saw less interest, with seats remaining vacant even in reputed colleges.
What Do College Principals and Leaders Say?
- Lady Brabourne College: Less than 50% of seats remain vacant, including core subjects. The principal cited delays and reduced applicant interest.
- Student Leaders: Trinamool Congress student wing officials are hopeful vacant seats can be filled after Durga Puja, possibly by allowing direct admissions at college level.
Policy-related Issues and Accessibility
- The postponement over OBC reservations worsened student indecision and migration.
- Critics from the West Bengal College and University Teachers’ Association (WBCUTA) pointed to “pro-elite policies” and increased dropout rates post-pandemic, alleging that both state and central government reforms have made public education less accessible.
Broader Context: The Impact on Public Higher Education
- Drop in college admissions is being linked to broader issues in public-funded education, including perceived decline in quality, threat culture on campus, and increased scrutiny after criminal incidents.
- If the pressure on public institutions persists, experts warn it could erode the foundation of accessible, high-quality higher education for future generations.
What’s Next?
- The state government may consider alternatives such as direct admissions to fill seats still vacant after centralized rounds.
- More outreach and support for digitally challenged students, and reforms to streamline future admission cycles, are being considered.
- Stakeholders urge a comprehensive review to address ongoing accessibility and quality challenges.