Odisha UG admissions 2025: 30% UG seats vacant despite extended admission drive

Nearly 30 percent of undergraduate (UG) seats in degree colleges across Odisha remain vacant this year, even after multiple admission phases and government intervention.

The stark disclosure came after data released by the Higher Education Department showed that out of the sanctioned 2.77 lakh UG seats, 81,664 remain unoccupied for the 2024–25 academic session.

In comparison, over 88,000 seats were vacant in 2023 and about 74,000 the previous year, indicating a persistent downward trend in demand for general degree courses.

Early Admission Cycle Fails To Bridge Gap

To compound worries, this downward trend comes despite the Higher Education Department’s reorganisation of the admission process. This year, for the first time, the UG admission process began in April, much before the Plus II results were declared by the Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE).

However, despite the revised calendar, the two-phase admission cycle,  held from April 16 to September 22, did not yield the desired outcome. As of the last reports, a spot admission round is currently underway, from October 15 to November 6, to fill the vacant seats.

As per official data, 79,839 seats were still vacant across the state, with government colleges filling over 99 per cent of their capacity and non-aided institutions achieving nearly 97 per cent enrolment. The shortfall is largely concentrated in self-financing colleges, where high course fees have deterred students from enrolling.

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Despite the early start to the academic year on July 10, the prolonged admission cycle has highlighted deeper challenges, from delayed exam results to declining interest in conventional degree paths.