Archive · 31 Aug 2026
JEE Board Rolls Back BTech Counselling Curbs After Protests
The JEE Board had made a rule stopping students who already got BTech seats from joining another counselling process.
That second process is used to fill seats that are still empty.
Students and teachers protested because they wanted admitted students to be able to move to a better college or subject.
They said higher-ranked students could lose this chance while lower-ranked students filled the empty seats.
Teachers also questioned a plan to use Class XII marks for some vacant-seat admissions.
The board had earlier said students who did not join previous counselling rounds should get a chance.
On Sunday, the board changed its rule after receiving requests from different groups.
Students already admitted through centralised online counselling will now be allowed to join the common decentralised counselling.
A new schedule will be announced soon.
The state JEE Board reversed its decision to exclude already admitted BTech students from decentralised counselling.
The rollback followed protests and requests from students, teachers, and other stakeholders.
Eligible students may now participate in common online decentralised counselling for vacant seats.
Teachers had warned that the earlier rule would prevent higher-ranked students from upgrading to preferred colleges or streams.
The board said it had conducted three centralised counselling rounds before opening counselling for vacant seats.
- Who
- The state JEE Board, BTech applicants, students, teachers, and stakeholders including the Jadavpur University Teachers’ Association.
- What
- The JEE Board reversed its decision to bar students already admitted through centralised counselling from decentralised counselling for vacant BTech seats.
- When
- The original restriction was announced on August 27, and the reversal was issued on Sunday; WBJEE was held on May 24.
- Where
- The decision applies to BTech admissions in West Bengal, including institutions such as Jadavpur University and Calcutta University.
- Why
- The board said it acted after receiving requests from stakeholders, following protests over the earlier restriction.
Students and teachers
State JEE Board
Participation in vacant-seat counselling
Students and teachers
Students and teachers opposed excluding candidates who were already admitted, saying they should retain the opportunity to move to a preferred college or stream.
State JEE Board
Before reversing the rule, the board said candidates who had not participated in earlier counselling should be given a chance after three centralised rounds.
Effect on admission standards
Students and teachers
Jadavpur University teachers said the earlier restriction could prevent higher-ranked students from upgrading and allow lower-ranked students who had no seats to enter vacant programmes.
State JEE Board
The board’s initial rule prioritised candidates who had not taken part in previous counselling; after protests, it permitted already admitted candidates to participate.
Use of Class XII marks
Students and teachers
JU teachers questioned allowing vacant-seat admissions based on Plus-II marks instead of WBJEE marks and ranks.
State JEE Board
The articles report that the board provided for Plus-II-based admissions but do not include a further explanation from the board on that provision.
- Original decision
- The August 27 decision barred candidates already admitted through centralised counselling from decentralised counselling.
- Revised decision
- Candidates admitted through the board’s centralised online counselling may now participate in common online decentralised counselling.
- Reason for reversal
- The board cited requests from various stakeholders and reversed the earlier decision after protests.
- Vacant seats
- Decentralised counselling will be used to fill BTech seats left vacant after centralised counselling.
- Earlier counselling
- The board conducted three rounds of centralised counselling before deciding to hold decentralised counselling.
- Previous practice
- Until last year, institutions including Jadavpur University and Calcutta University allowed some admitted students to upgrade their college or stream.
- Exam date
- The West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination was held on May 24.
