80% pharmacy colleges not on list as admission portal opens today

Bhopal: Only 4 of 50 pharmacy colleges in Bhopal, and 50 of 250 statewide, are visible on the portal as the online choice-filling process opens Wednesday. Students are set to suffer as they will find severely curtailed options after the Department of Technical Education (DTE) launched counselling before colleges secured requisite approvals.The choice-filling window will be open from July 1 to July 20, and if the present situation persists, many applicants are likely to be denied access to the full range of colleges. Under existing admission rules, no additional institutions can be added once the process begins.“There are around 50 pharmacy colleges in Bhopal alone, yet only four are visible to students on the portal,” said a college principal on condition of anonymity.“Two or three more may be added before the process begins, but the admission process is effectively set to collapse,” he added.Out of 250 colleges in the state, there are only 50 visible for the students to choose from.College administrators and stakeholders have criticised DTE’s timing. They allege the department initiated counselling before granting approvals or completing document verification — steps that normally precede publication of the participating institutions’ list.

“It appears procedural checks were bypassed,” said an academic familiar with the state admission system. “Once the choice period opens, the rules prohibit additions. That leaves applicants and colleges at the mercy of an incomplete list.”Students and parents have expressed anxiety, warning that limited options may force many to accept seats in less preferred institutions or face delays in securing placements.“This is our only chance to lock in preferences,” said an applicant.“If most colleges aren’t visible, our choices will be constrained unfairly,” he added.DTE officials did not respond immediately to requests for comment. Sources within the department said staff are aware of the issue and are examining remedial measures that would not violate rules barring post-commencement additions.Experts caution that reopening or modifying the list after the start date will lead to challenges from listed institutions and potential litigation from applicants citing procedural unfairness.Meanwhile, affected colleges have urged DTE to either postpone the choice-filling window until approvals are finalised or devise a mechanism to include all eligible colleges without breaching statutory norms.“A brief postponement would preserve the integrity of the process and protect students’ interests,” said a principal, requesting anonymity. With choice-filling set to begin on July 1, anxious applicants and colleges await clarity on whether DTE will intervene to prevent what many fear will be a chaotic admissions season.