Fri Oct 03 22:05:03 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
College admissions in West Bengal for the 2025-2026 academic year are in disarray due to significant delays. Despite Class 12 results being released in May, the state government’s centralized admission portal will not close until October 10th, with colleges then tasked with filling remaining seats by November 7th. This unprecedented delay, caused by legal challenges regarding OBC classifications, heavy rains, and Durga Puja holidays, has disrupted the academic calendar. Classes began in late August. Some students went to other states and other private institutions. Teachers express concern about the impact on teaching quality, course completion, and potential talent drain, particularly affecting underprivileged students.
**News Article:**
**West Bengal College Admissions Plagued by Delays, Sparking Concerns Over Academic Quality**
**Kolkata, October 4, 2025** – The 2025-2026 academic year is off to a rocky start for students in West Bengal hoping to attend state-run and aided colleges, as admissions remain incomplete months after Class 12 results were announced. The prolonged admission process has been beset by legal challenges, weather disruptions, and holiday schedules, leading to unprecedented delays.
The state government’s centralized admission portal will finally close on October 10th, after which individual colleges will be responsible for filling any remaining seats by November 7th. This protracted process has pushed the admission timeline far beyond the typical schedule, where the first semester is expected to begin in July.
“The whole admission process is in a mess,” says Prof. Ishita Mukhopadhyay, a senior professor of economics at the University of Calcutta. She expressed concern that many students, particularly those from poorer backgrounds, have been forced to seek admission in other states or at private institutions due to the uncertainty. The ongoing delays will severely affect the classroom teaching and learning process, affecting course completion and skills development for Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
Dr. Avijit Mandal, associate professor of Economics at Sister Nibedita Government General Degree College for Girls in Kolkata, echoed this sentiment, stating, “The prolonged uncertainty left thousands of students in a limbo. Some grew so frustrated by the delays that they sought admission in universities outside of West Bengal, resulting in a potential talent drain from the State. This delay only marginalises underprivileged students.”
The delays stem from several factors, including a legal battle surrounding a new list of communities to be included in the OBC category and more recently, heavy rains and the Durga Puja holidays. Teachers argue that the state government should have proceeded with admissions despite the legal hurdles.
The situation has raised concerns about the quality of education, potential talent drain, and the disproportionate impact on students from underprivileged backgrounds.
First Piper 