Overview
- The West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board issued a Common Online Decentralised Counselling-2026 notice that excludes candidates who accepted seats in centralised e-counselling from the decentralised rounds meant to fill leftover engineering, architecture and pharmacy seats.
- The board says the restriction aims to prevent multiple claims, unnecessary blocking of seats and migration by candidates who have already secured admission.
- The Jadavpur University Teachers' Association, Calcutta University teachers and student groups have formally objected and asked the Higher Education Ministry to review and withdraw the notification, arguing it will deny higher-ranked admitted students the chance to upgrade to preferred departments.
- Critics also challenge related provisions that allow admission on Class 12 board marks and require creating a common merit list across WBJEE and JEE-Main, saying the two exams are not directly comparable and that the rule would dilute established merit criteria.
- The notification is in effect and, as of the latest coverage, no reversal or public response has been issued by the Higher Education Minister, leaving students facing a choice between keeping current seats or risking their upgrade prospects and raising broader trust concerns about the admission process.