Is the Gujarat Government Warning Colleges About Misleading Students with False Offline Admissions?

Gandhinagar, June 12 (NationPress) In light of the current centralised admission process for undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG), B.Ed, and LLB programs through the Gujarat Centralised Admission System (GCAS) portal, the state government has issued a stern warning to colleges accused of misleading students and their families.

After receiving numerous complaints via the GCAS helpline, where parents claimed certain colleges were assuring them of admissions during a so-called offline process later on, the Higher Education Department took decisive action.

The Commissioner of Higher Education has circulated an official notice to the Vice Chancellors of all 15 government universities linked to the GCAS portal, instructing them to ensure that no institution conducts or promises offline admissions under any circumstances. The government reiterated that the admission cycle for 2025-26 will exclusively occur through the GCAS portal, and no institution is permitted to manage admissions independently or outside this system.

The circular highlights misleading statements such as “there’s no need to apply now; we will confirm your admission once offline admissions commence,” which have emerged from various institutions. Such claims not only compromise the transparency of the centralised process but also confuse students and parents navigating the new system.

The government has further mandated that all universities communicate these directives clearly to their affiliated colleges and departments. Officials emphasize that the decentralisation of merit and allocation has been introduced to heighten transparency, allowing students multiple college-course options based on their merit.

The Gujarat Centralised Admission System (GCAS) is a government-initiated digital platform created to streamline and standardize the admission process for undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG), B.Ed, LLB, and other professional courses across 15 state-run universities and affiliated colleges in Gujarat.

Designed to minimize discrepancies and ensure transparency, GCAS allows students to register online, choose their preferred courses and colleges, and receive seat allotments based on merit. This system eliminates the need for students to apply individually to various colleges and curbs irregularities in seat distribution.

A key feature of GCAS is its merit-based, decentralised allocation system, which offers students multiple course-college combinations according to their rank, thereby enhancing their chances of securing a spot in their desired institution. Additionally, it ensures uniform admission timelines, reduces opportunities for manipulation in offline processes, and simplifies the admission experience for both students and educational institutions.