Undergraduate Admissions in Bengal Come to a Standstill

Undergraduate admissions across West Bengal, including MBBS and dental programmes, have been put on hold following a new directive from the state health department issued on Monday. Admissions to general degree and engineering programmes were already frozen after uncertainties regarding OBC reservations — and now the medical and dental counselling process has also been suspended until further notice.

Medical Admissions on Hold

• Counselling for 34 medical and 7 dental colleges was originally scheduled to begin on July 31.
• Admission procedures were to be completed between August 1 and August 3.
• A notice from the Directorate of Medical Education stated that the WB NEET UG 2025 counselling process has been suspended.
• According to officials, the pause is a result of ongoing uncertainty regarding the implementation of OBC reservation rules.

Students Left in Limbo

Thousands of students who cleared NEET are now worried about missing the National Medical Council’s deadline of September 5 to begin classes.

An aspirant ranked 11,245 nationally and 400 in the state expressed concern about losing crucial preparation time if the delay continues.

Another student commented that many students across the state are now facing an uncertain future.

Admission Status at a Glance

Legal Roadblock

The freeze stems from a judicial dispute over OBC-A and OBC-B categories:

• May 22, 2024: Calcutta High Court cancelled post-2010 OBC-A and OBC-B certificates.
• June 17: High Court stayed the state’s revised OBC notification.
• The State then appealed to the Supreme Court, but the May 22 order remains in effect.
• August 7: Calcutta High Court asked the JEE Board to use pre-2010 reservation norms.

Recent observations made by the Supreme Court indicated that reservation policies need to be supported by legislation rather than administrative instructions.

What Happens Now?

• 85% of seats reserved for West Bengal students are currently frozen.
• 15% all-India quota seats remain open and admissions are continuing in those seats.
• The State has again moved the Supreme Court and is trying to resolve the matter before September 5.