Thu Jul 17 01:27:01 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text, followed by a rewritten version as a news article:
**Summary:**
The West Bengal government has extended the deadline for undergraduate admissions in state-run and aided colleges for the second time, creating uncertainty for students. The extension is partly due to a legal challenge regarding OBC reservations, but some believe it’s also related to low application numbers as students opt for private institutions or colleges in other states. This delay is causing anxiety for parents who worry about the timeline and the potential need to enroll their children in more expensive private colleges as a backup.
**News Article:**
**West Bengal College Admissions in Disarray as Deadline Extended Again**
**Kolkata, July 17, 2025** – Aspiring undergraduate students in West Bengal are facing continued uncertainty as the state government has once again extended the deadline for admissions to state-run and aided colleges. A circular issued on Tuesday by the Department of Higher Education pushed the deadline back to July 25th, marking the second extension after the initial date of July 1st. No official explanation accompanied the announcement, leaving thousands of students in limbo.
The delay is reportedly linked to an ongoing legal dispute concerning the state’s list of communities eligible for OBC (Other Backward Classes) reservation. A special leave petition related to the matter is pending before the Supreme Court, preventing the centralized admission portal from accurately collecting category details. The portal, introduced last year, has faced scrutiny following a Calcutta High Court order regarding the OBC list.
“The extension of the application deadline is primarily due to this legal situation,” said a professor at a state-run college, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Proper data collection during the application process cannot be completed at this stage.”
However, some academics suspect other factors are at play, including a potential shortfall in applications. There are concerns that an increasing number of students are choosing to attend private institutions or colleges in other states, leading to fewer applications for government-run colleges.
The repeated extensions are causing significant anxiety for parents. “Parents have no clue how long the admission process will take to be complete and whether the children should simultaneously apply in private colleges, where education is far more expensive. This delay is creating unnecessary anxiety and annoyance for parents,” one working mother told *The Hindu*, requesting anonymity. Many parents feel compelled to secure seats at private colleges as a precaution, even if they would prefer their children to attend more affordable and reputable government institutions. Meanwhile, private institutions are moving forward with their admission processes and are expected to begin their semester in early August.
First Piper 