Patna University receives only 30,000 applications

PATNA: Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, colleges that fall under the jurisdiction of Patna University (PU) and Patliputra University (PPU) have received very few applications for admission to different undergraduate (UG) courses. The last date for submission of online applications to both the universities is likely to end on August 14.
According to sources, PU and PPU have received nearly 30,000 and 8,000 applications, respectively. However, they had got 48,000 and 1.1 lakh applications, respectively, last year.
PU conducts a combined entrance test for admission to different UG courses in Patna Science College, Patna College, Vanijya Mahavidyalaya, B N College and Magadh Mahila College. Patna Women’s College, another constituent college of PU, is an autonomous institution and conducts a separate entrance test.
In view of the delay caused due to the Covid-19 lockdowns, PU is likely to hold an online entrance test this year. It has contacted some agencies for the purpose.
“A private agency gave us a demonstration of the online entrance test through videoconferencing. A final decision on the modality of the test will be taken shortly,” PU vice-chancellor (VC) H N Prasad told this newspaper on Monday.
PU students’ welfare dean N K Jha pointed out that the last date for submission of applications for admission to UG courses was not likely to be extended as sufficient time had been given to the aspirants.
“However, the deadline for admission to postgraduate (PG) courses may be extended as the results of Degree Part III examinations of PU are yet to be published. Moreover, admission to different PG programmes is made on the basis of the marks obtained in the previous exams. PU is waiting for necessary instructions from the Raj Bhavan for conducting the pending exams,” Jha said.
PPU, on the other hand, does not hold any entrance test for admission to regular UG courses in its 25 constituent colleges and 43 affiliated degree colleges.
“Admission to A N College, College of Commerce, Arts and Science, J D Women’s College, T P S College and Arvind Mahila College is made on merit-cum-choice basis,” said PPU pro-VC Girish Kumar Chaudhary.