West Bengal: Deadline for UG applications extended by a week to August 27

KOLKATA: The last date for submission of application forms for undergraduate courses has been extended to August 27 on Friday.
The move is likely to benefit a large number of Higher Secondary students who are yet to receive their revised Plus-II mark sheets. Most of them had applied for a review, hoping to get higher scores that would help them better their chances of securing seats in preferred subjects in colleges of their choice, especially when merit list cut-offs were likely to increase than that last year.

Since all other dates remain unchanged, the revised application submission deadline leaves only two days to publish the first merit list. According to the original schedule, first merit lists have to be published on August 31.
Though Friday was the deadline for submitting application forms, authorities at several colleges said many students were still waiting for their revised mark sheets, which they wanted to submit for college admissions.
Principal of Surendranath College Indranil Kar said, “We have received at least 10-12 mails from students, saying they wanted to upload their revised mark sheets. We allowed them, advising them to submit fresh applications.”
After board exams for classes X and XII were cancelled due to the pandemic, the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education, like other boards and councils, adopted a formula to compute the marks of Class X and XII students. After HS results were declared, it was found that more than 20,000 students had failed and many alleged that they had been marked less than what the formula showed. Later, the council declared that all candidates would be awarded pass marks and 14,000-plus students applied for a review. Many of these candidates are yet to receive their revised mark sheets. President of HS Council Chiranjib Bhattacharjee said the “matter would be sorted by August 27”.
Principal of Jogamaya Devi College Sarbani Sarkar said, “I have received eight-10 mails, requesting us to allow them to upload revised mark sheets. Many are calling on out help desk, too. Many more students are asking to submit revised mark sheets than that previous years.” Jogesh Chandra Choudhury College principal Pankaj Kumar Roy said, “We have so far received one request for uploading revised mark sheet. We have allowed the candidate to do so.”
On Friday afternoon, hours before the application portal was to close, the higher education department declared that the deadline would be extended to August 27. A higher education department official said, “Only the submission date has been extended. Other dates will remain unchanged.” So, this is a breathing space meant for those who are yet to receive their revised mark sheets, another official said.
Ballygunge Shiksha Sadan principal Sunita Sen said, “Ten students are still waiting for their mark sheets. An extension is always positive for children. We are still waiting for the revised mark sheets as we have nothing to do in this matter.” “A seven-day extension of the date is good for students but everyone has to receive their revised mark sheets by then. That must be ensured,” said Sougata Basu, general secretary, West Bengal Govt School Teachers’ Association.
Many principals admitted the extended deadline might help students but they would be would be rushed to publish the merit lists within two days. “Submission date extension is good for students but two days won’t be enough to prepare merit lists,” a principal said.
Jadavpur University registrar Snehamanju Basu said, “Students will get the chance to submit their revised mark sheets. But we will get less time for merit lists. We hope that date will be extended, too.”