The Odisha Higher Education Department has released the third and final cut-off list for undergraduate admissions to the three-year degree courses for the 2025–26 academic session. With this, the UG admission process across the state has officially concluded. While institutions like Ravenshaw University have once again drawn top-performing students, a worrying trend has emerged—over 1.15 lakh seats remain vacant in colleges across Odisha, raising questions about the state’s higher education framework.
Ravenshaw University Leads with Highest Cut-Offs
Cuttack’s Ravenshaw University has maintained its reputation as the most sought-after institution in the state, posting some of the highest cut-off marks across various streams. For the Arts stream, Political Science closed at 90.83%, while Physics and Zoology in the Science stream had cut-offs at 92.33%. The Commerce stream followed closely at 89.33%.
Other top institutions reflected similar competition. BJB Autonomous College in Bhubaneswar had a cut-off of 87.33% for Computer Science. Utkal University’s Law College, offering a five-year integrated BA LLB programme, set its closing mark at 82.33%. These elevated cut-offs highlight the intense demand for limited seats at premier institutions.
Over 1.15 Lakh UG Seats Go Unfilled
Despite the high interest in top-tier colleges, the overall admission numbers paint a grim picture. Out of 2,74,365 sanctioned UG seats across the state, 1,15,147 have gone unfilled. Only 1,59,218 students secured placements across the three rounds of admission.
In the final round alone, 49,818 students were allotted seats—comprising 21,023 male, 28,792 female, and three transgender candidates. While the diversity in applicants is encouraging, the volume of vacant seats suggests deep-rooted challenges. This is not a one-off occurrence: 1.5 lakh seats remained vacant in 2024, and 91,457 in 2023. Even back in 2017, over 70,000 seats were left unfilled in 834 colleges.
Systemic Issues in Higher Education Policy
The recurring trend of large-scale vacancies has cast a shadow over the state’s higher education strategy. With the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 this year, expectations were high for structural changes. However, critics argue that traditional programmes in Arts, Science, and Commerce have failed to evolve and remain largely untouched by reforms. The lack of skill-based, industry-aligned courses is also seen as a key factor driving student disinterest.
Looking Forward: Urgent Need for Reform
Admitted students are required to complete their admission process via the Student Academic Management System (SAMS) portal by July 4, 2025. Classes for first-year undergraduates will begin from July 10.
Experts suggest that Odisha’s higher education system must shift focus toward new-age, job-oriented courses, improved campus infrastructure, and tighter alignment with market needs. While Ravenshaw and a few others remain strongholds of academic excellence, the broader landscape signals a state in educational distress.
The alarming number of unfilled seats year after year underscores the urgent need for reform—without it, the gap between student aspirations and institutional offerings may only widen.