Over 34k engineering seats may remain vacant despite higher pass percentage

Ahmedabad: Following the announcement of the Gujarat Board's Class 12 Science results, the admission process for degree engineering, pharmacy, and other professional courses is expected to begin soon. Despite a higher pass percentage this year, statistics indicate that over 34,000 engineering seats may remain vacant — more than last year's 32,000 unfilled seats.
In the A Group (for engineering and pharmacy), 36,441 students registered for the exam, against which 36,422 appeared and 33,471 cleared it, resulting in a 91.90% pass rate. However, only 489 students scored above the 99 percentile in GUJCET this year, compared to 510 last year. Also, 429 students achieved an A1 grade, down from 629 in 2024.

Though this year's overall result is 1.79% higher than last year's, the actual number of students passing in the A Group decreased by about 1,400. With approximately 78,000 engineering seats available, if all 33,471 pass-outs opt for engineering, and even after considering students from CBSE and other boards, around 34,000 seats are still expected to remain vacant.
Sources in the admission committee noted that even last year, despite 42,000 confirmed admissions, 32,000 seats remained vacant. The trend suggests a widening gap between available seats and eligible candidates, driven by declining interest or migration to alternative courses.