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Time of India
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
GCAS debacle: 56% UG seats filled, 44% vacant after 16 rounds
Ahmedabad/Surat/Vadodara: Gujarat's first fully centralised admission system, the Gujarat Common Admission Services (GCAS), was supposed to make college admissions simpler and smoother. But after 16 rounds — the highest in the state's history — nearly half of Gujarat's 4.71 lakh undergraduate (UG) seats remain vacant. From missing confirmations to entire admissions being wiped out with a single click, students are facing roadblocks at every turn, and college principals are left grappling for clarity even as a staggering 2.04 lakh seats remain unclaimed. By Friday evening, state colleges filled up only 56% of the UG seats. Earlier, after six to seven rounds, the admission process was handed over to colleges. But this year, despite persistent glitches, that handover has not happened, and students are paying the price. Admissions are reportedly up by 8% compared to last year. Yet officials admit that about 12,000 fewer students applied for general stream UG courses this year. The issues are primarily related to the poor design of the online portal and glitches related to multiple choices of courses and portal-university coordination, experts pointed out. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it legal? How to get Internet without paying a subscription? Techno Mag Learn More Undo You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad Dhruvi Parmar, a student from Ahmedabad is eligible for free education under the state govt policy as a female SC/ST/OBC applicant. "Instead, the portal asked me to pay Rs 32,000 for a BA (English) seat. We have flagged the issue," she said. Heer Solanki, who had cleared Class 12 in the science stream, applied for a BSc seat. She was allotted MG College of Science, but there was no clarity from the college's side, claim family members. "Due to the online admission system, we did not know which college our daughter got admission to. With no college-level merit list, we were not sure and thus we could not pay fees. Despite securing first class in class 12, my daughter is still waiting to get admission," said her father, Bharat Solanki. From the colleges' perspective, the issue is of coordination. Payal Iyer, vice-president of the Gujarat State Principals Association, said that her college received 600 offer letters, but only four admissions. "Several colleges are experiencing a high number of vacant seats. One of the reasons could be multiple applications and no follow-ups," she said. "About 50% of the seats in grant-in-aid colleges are vacant. " One of the major issues is that the portal allows students to cancel admissions via an app, and colleges are unable to track confirmed enrolments, say experts. Earlier, cancellations had to be done in person. The principals' association has already raised their concerns with state authorities. Thousands Allocated, But No Confirmation Dilip Rana, commissioner (higher education), confirmed that GCAS completed 16 rounds with 2.66 lakh students confirming admissions. "About 40,000 to 50,000 students received admissions in their preferred colleges but have not confirmed," he said. He refused to comment on the timeline in which the colleges will be allowed to fill vacant seats. Mukesh Kumar, principal secretary (education), said that compared to last year, more students secured admissions through the portal and the system benefited many students. "After centralised rounds, the universities should be allocated seats and students must be allowed to apply directly to colleges through the portal. It will benefit both. About 7,000 students selected our college, but few confirmed admissions," said Sanjay Vakil, principal of HA College of Commerce and President of the All-India Principals' Association. Course Cancellation Equals Admission Wipeout In Surat, Dhruvi Sharma got into the BCA course at Udhna Citizen College in the second admission round and even attended classes for 10 days. But when her family tried to edit choice preferences, the portal cancelled her entire admission without warning. "There was no intimation from GCAS or the college. Where does my daughter go now?" asked Jayshree, her mother. Ramesh Gadhvi, registrar of Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU), said that they have not faced any issues with the system and are addressing any other issues raised by the students. While there have been no major hiccups in admissions at the Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) of Baroda so far, it is the uncertainty of bagging a seat in their preferred subject that is keeping students on tenterhooks. Choice-Filling a Major Concern The situation is particularly acute in faculties like science and arts where students apply for subject-specific courses. A case in point is MSU's faculty of arts where around 260 students applied for admission to BA (English) as their first choice in the first round, but only around 40 paid fees. The remaining seats went into the next round. "With the cutoff at 80%, many students secured seats elsewhere assuming that they would not get admission here even though they had scored 70% or more. Now, they will have to get that admission cancelled to get into MSU. Meanwhile, because s/he did not apply in the fear that they may not get admission, it is likely that people with lower percentage than them will get into the varsity just because they applied," said an official. Student leader Suzan Ladman pointed out that earlier, if someone saw that he would not get admission in a major subject of his choice, he could easily switch to another subject in the science or arts faculties. "Now, the portal doesn't allow that flexibility. Many students have been forced to take admissions to other universities due to this limitation," he said. MSU registrar K M Chudasama said that in the first two rounds, the university finalised nearly 75 per cent of its admissions. The remaining rounds were needed only for the remaining seats. He added that the cancellation of admissions was possible on portals and not a major hassle. —— BOX1 Process differs from engg admissions While the state education department runs both GCAS and the system for the admission committee for professional courses (ACPC), there are many variations, experts point out. "While engineering admissions allow students the flexibility to secure a seat, pay fees, and still continue participating in subsequent rounds for better opportunities, the GCAS portal follows a restrictive approach. Once students confirm their admission through GCAS, they are automatically removed from the system, eliminating any possibility of upgrading to a preferred institution in subsequent rounds," said an official. The situation poses a challenge for those coming from a rural background who shell out up to Rs 300 for filling up forms. BOX2 Additional round from July 24 GCAS officials said that the initial special phase of UG admissions ended on July 15, with the subsequent special phase scheduled to commence on July 24, catering to students who missed previous rounds or recently passed supplementary exams. Education department officials said that the highest number of confirmed admissions was recorded in Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, followed by Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University and Gujarat University. "GCAS provides support through two dedicated helpline numbers and, additionally, 2,300 complimentary assistance centres have been established throughout Gujarat to provide support with application completion, document verification, and guidance," mentioned the GCAS website.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Gujarat's GCAS sees record 2.25 lakh seat confirmations; 5 extra admission rounds announced
GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat government has announced an additional special round of five admission cycles under the Gujarat Common Admission Services (GCAS) platform. This decision follows the completion of eight rounds (two phases) of counselling and the observation of an unprecedented surge in student participation. The announcement was made during a comprehensive review meeting chaired by Higher and Technical Education Minister Rushikesh Patel in Gandhinagar. According to official figures, as of July 3, more than 3.22 lakh students have been verified on the GCAS portal, with 2.97 lakh receiving admission offers. Of these, nearly 2.25 lakh students have already confirmed their seats - marking a 32 per cent increase compared to the 1.70 lakh admissions confirmed by the same date last year. The GCAS is a unified online platform launched by the Government of Gujarat to streamline and centralise the undergraduate admission process across the state's 15 government universities. Designed to ensure transparency, efficiency, and accessibility, GCAS allows students to register, verify documents, receive merit-based college offers, and confirm admissions - all through a single portal. The system enables real-time data sharing with universities, respects institutional autonomy in seat allocation, and offers location-based preferences to students, ensuring equitable access to higher education in both rural and urban regions of Gujarat. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo To ensure no eligible candidate is left behind, the government has decided to open registration for this special round until July 3, and the admission process will be carried out between July 7 and July 11 across five rounds. The minister urged all students, especially those who missed earlier rounds, to take full advantage of this final opportunity. Notably, GCAS streamlines the admission process for 15 government universities across Gujarat. Once a student registers on the portal, their data is forwarded to the respective university, which independently conducts admissions based on merit and regulations. The state government has clarified that if a student fails to report to a college during the offer window, it is up to the university - not the government - to decide whether to offer the seat again in subsequent rounds. Importantly, college allotments are merit-driven and locality-based: Students are offered seats in colleges closer to their selected zones - rural students in nearby rural institutions, and urban students in their local city colleges, ensuring equitable access across regions. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
Time of India
24-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Gujarat University eases admission rules amid GCAS chaos
Ahmedabad: Mounting confusion and unrest over the GCAS (Gujarat Common Admission Services) process has prompted Gujarat University (GU) to issue a key directive, allowing its affiliated colleges to admit more students than their approved seat capacity—a move aimed at filling thousands of vacant undergraduate seats. Despite five to six rounds of GCAS counselling, nearly two-thirds of seats remain vacant across colleges. Many institutions are unable to fill vacancies due to technical restrictions in the centralized admission system. The GU has now allowed colleges to issue admission offers beyond their sanctioned capacity, provided that merit is maintained and the process remains transparent. For instance, colleges with 50 vacancies can now extend offers to over 100 students to ensure maximum seat occupancy. The directive also permits the conversion of vacant reserved category seats to general category, further improving fill rates. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad This comes in the wake of widespread criticism of the GCAS system, with student protests erupting over delayed confirmations and poor implementation. Sources say the core issue stems from students receiving multiple offers without locking any, leaving colleges unable to proceed with final admissions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Vitenskapelige gjennombrudd. Slik får du sunnere leddhelse Artro-Shield Les mer Undo While the state earlier ruled out offline admission rounds, the university's new move introduces an "offline-style" workaround within the GCAS framework. However, GU has warned colleges to ensure no high-merit student is overlooked in favour of lower-ranked candidates. Institutions will also be held accountable for resolving admission-related disputes. The policy shift underscores growing dissatisfaction with GCAS and reflects universities' push to adapt to ground realities to safeguard students' academic futures.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Gujarat Common Admission Services (GCAS) portal sees 70,000 fewer registrations across Gujarat
Ahmedabad: The online registration process for undergraduate admissions through the Gujarat Common Admission Services (GCAS) portal has concluded. This year, approximately 61,000 students registered for admission to Gujarat University, compared to 73,583 last year, marking a drop of over 13,000 students. Across all govt universities in the state, the number of confirmed registrations has also declined significantly. Last year, over 3.3 lakh students confirmed their registration by paying the fee. This year, the number dropped to around 2.48 lakh, indicating a shortfall of nearly 70,000 students. Officials listed several reasons for this decline. The delayed start of the GCAS registration process may have discouraged some students. Additionally, many students could be waiting for the second admission round, hoping for better opportunities. Another key factor is the rise of private universities in the state, which has led a large number of students to opt for various courses outside govt universities. Last year, Gujarat University had 75,583 registrations, out of which 51,299 students were admitted to different colleges. With this year's numbers dropping to around 61,000, a higher number of vacant seats is expected. In 2024, around 15,000 seats remained unfilled. This year, with even fewer registrations, the number of vacant seats could be significantly higher. As per the admission schedule, students who completed their document verification will receive offer letters on May 29. Based on the offer, students must confirm admission by paying the fees and presenting original documents at the allotted college. Students can participate in further rounds, but they will receive higher-merit college options only if it is available. Students who did not verify their applications by the May 23 deadline will not be eligible for Round 1 but can apply in Round 2, starting with quick registration from May 24. The full timeline for Round 2 will be announced soon. Admission details and updates for all rounds are available on the GCAS portal. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
MSU receives 22,716 applications under GCAS
Even as the filing applications under the Gujarat Common Admission Services (GCAS) has now completed, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (MSU) Thursday said it has received 22,716 applications for its undergraduate (UG) programmes for 2025–26, with the Faculty of Commerce receiving over 10,000 applications. MSU in a statement said, 'This year marks a transformative shift in the admission process, with MSU fully embracing the GCAS — an integrated and transparent platform launched by the Government of Gujarat. The initiative not only made the admission process more efficient but also allowed students from across the state to seamlessly explore their academic aspirations. The registration window closed on May 21, 2025…' Last year, as GCAS was implemented across the state, protests erupted at MSU Baroda with fears that the quota of local students might be reduced to accommodate outside students, particularly in the commerce stream, triggered by the record cut off of the first provisional merit list. While the Faculty of Commerce received over 10,000 applications, the Faculty of Science and Faculty of Arts received 6,116 and 2,484 applications respectively. Prof. Hitesh D Raviya, OSD (Public Relations and Communication) said, 'All the deans are ready and have meticulously planned for the upcoming admission phases. To strengthen our academic environment, temporary assistant professors have been given an extension till June 12, 2025…'
