WBCAP Start Date Announced

State Undergraduate Admission Portal Likely by June 19; Minister Remains Optimistic

Education Minister Bratya Basu expressed confidence in the Assembly on Tuesday about launching the centralised undergraduate admission portal for government and government-aided colleges before June 19. His remarks come amid rising concerns over delays in the admission timeline compared to autonomous and private institutions.

Institutions such as St. Xavier’s College (Park Street), St. Xavier’s University (New Town), and Scottish Church College are expected to publish their initial merit lists before the state-run admission process begins. Additionally, two Ramakrishna Mission institutions - the Residential College in Narendrapur and Swami Vivekananda Centenary College in Rahara - are proceeding with entrance tests.

Despite the minister's assurance, education leaders across state colleges remain concerned about the implications of the delay. Many fear it could lead to high-performing students choosing private or autonomous institutions that have already concluded their application cycles.

Minister Basu defended the current schedule, citing that the admission portal was launched on June 19 last year and insisting that the academic calendar remains aligned with University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines. “Today is June 10. We are hopeful of launching the portal before June 19,” he said in response to questions from the opposition in the Assembly.

His comments came just a day after Jadavpur University’s English department raised alarm over the risk of losing top-tier students due to prolonged uncertainty.

Systemic Delays and Missed Opportunities

Siuli Sarkar, principal of Lady Brabourne College, expressed disappointment over the continued delays. She pointed out that in a four-year undergraduate curriculum based on semesters, an early start is essential — something that hasn't been possible in recent years. According to her, last year’s late admission cycle contributed significantly to thousands of unfilled seats, a pattern that may repeat.

OBC Quota Uncertainty Adds to the Bottleneck

A major cause of this year’s delay stems from unresolved issues surrounding OBC reservations in state-aided colleges. The Calcutta High Court struck down the existing OBC quota policy in May, prompting the state to draft a new framework. However, the revised policy is still awaiting clearance from the Supreme Court.

While the cabinet approved the revised structure last week, many question why the state did not act sooner, knowing the legal and academic consequences. Sharmila Mitra, principal of Behala College — an A++ accredited institution — noted that the delay has cost them prospective applicants. “We had students showing interest until last month, but the queries have now stopped. They’ve likely enrolled elsewhere,” she said, adding that even new offerings like a BSc in Defence Studies may now struggle to attract enough students.

On May 23, Minister Basu had originally projected that the portal would be ready by the end of that month.