As the new academic year approaches, several states and top universities across India have launched or expanded centralised online admission portals, aiming to simplify and streamline undergraduate (UG) admission processes. These platforms mark a major shift from traditional college-wise applications to a unified digital interface for lakhs of students.
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🏛️ West Bengal Launches WBCAP: A Landmark in State UG Admissions
The West Bengal Centralised Admission Portal (WBCAP) officially launched on June 18, 2025, offering students access to over 7,000 undergraduate courses across 460 government-aided colleges under 17 universities. The portal, inaugurated by Education Minister Bratya Basu, is a major reform aimed at ending the chaos of multiple applications and promoting transparency.
Key features:
Students can apply for up to 25 courses/programmes in a single application.
No application fees for students.
The portal includes an AI chatbot (“Bina” or “Veena”) to help guide applicants through the process.
A structured admission timeline, with the first merit list due on July 6 and classes beginning from August 1.
Mop-up rounds and upgradation rounds will ensure unclaimed seats are efficiently filled.
Officials hope the initiative will reduce confusion and duplication of admissions, improve merit-based seat allocation, and eliminate physical counselling requirements.
🏫 Delhi University Opens CSAS Portal with New Tie-Breaking Rule
The prestigious Delhi University (DU) has also opened its CSAS (Common Seat Allocation System) portal for UG admissions. While CUET scores remain the central criteria for seat allotment, a new tie-breaking mechanism based on Class 10 board marks has been introduced to address identical CUET scores.
Other updates from DU:
Launch of skill-based UG programmes to meet industry demand.
Introduction of extra PG seats for single-girl students.
Revised eligibility criteria for several courses.
Full online processing through admission.uod.ac.in with helpline support and chatbot assistance.
This student-friendly system is expected to make the application process more efficient, inclusive, and fair.
⚠️ Madhya Pradesh Faces Setbacks with New e-Pravesh Portal
In contrast to the smooth rollout in Bengal and DU, Madhya Pradesh’s new “e-Pravesh” portal has experienced technical issues, frustrating students and colleges alike. Applicants have reported server downtimes, missing course details, and verification troubles.
The Directorate of Higher Education (DHE) has advised students to visit any government college to complete manual document verification, while the technical teams work to fix the glitches.
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📌 Summary Table
Region Portal Name Launch Date Notable Features
West Bengal WBCAP June 18, 2025 25 choices, AI chatbot, merit-based lists, no fees, mop-up rounds
Delhi University (DU) CSAS June 2025 CUET + Class 10 tiebreaker, new UG/PG options, online-only process
Madhya Pradesh e-Pravesh June 2025 Facing glitches; manual verification required as temporary workaround
📝 Conclusion
The rollout of centralised admission portals marks a turning point in India’s higher education system. While some states have embraced the change smoothly, others face growing pains. However, the common objective is clear: to make college admissions more accessible, merit-driven, and transparent for every aspiring student.