-Dipta Joshi

The Mumbai University has asked all affiliated colleges to begin admissions to undergraduate degree courses despite class XII results of major education boards like the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE) and Council of Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) still pending. This is the first time that Mumbai University first year degree college admissions will begin without class XII results across all school education boards being declared.  

Currently, only Maharashtra State Board for Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) class XII aka HSC results have been announced June 8. Results for both CBSE and ISC exams, which have only just completed their class XII exams on June 15 and June 9 respectively, are expected to be announced in July.  

Mumbai University which has 834 colleges affiliated to it across the state issued its admissions schedule Monday night (June 21), stating all affiliated colleges must complete their online submission of admission form filling process by June 25 and announce their first merit list by June 29. Colleges have also been asked to complete their in-house admissions and minority quota admissions during this period. The second merit list has been scheduled for July 7 while the third merit list date has been set for July 14.

“The Mumbai University always commences the admission process once the HSC results are out so there has been no deviation this year either. Every year, the HSC board declares its results much after the other boards. However, for the first time, we have seen that the CBSE and ISC board results have been delayed even after the HSC results are out. Taking the current scenario into consideration the University has also allowed colleges to seek additional seats to admit students from the CBSE and ICSE boards too,” pointed out an official of the University.

Making the provision, the University circular states, “All colleges, including autonomous institutes, will have to admit students as per the sanctioned intake only. Colleges may get permission from University for additional seats in excess of intake to admit CBSE and ICSE board students as per college merit-cut-off in due course.”

Thus colleges will now admit state board class XII students meeting their cut-off criteria as per the admissions schedule. Further depending on the number of pending seats, they will admit CBSE and ISC students meeting the college’s cut-off marks. Colleges will also have to ask special permission from the University if they decide to admit students beyond their intake capacity.  

“Considering this was an unusual year where everyone, including the students had to put up with a lot of last minute changes to their academic and examination schedules, the University could have made an exception this year and delayed the admissions until all boards declared their results. In the current scenario, CBSE and ISC students will definitely be at a disadvantage since colleges may not be keen on admitting students beyond their intake capacity. Also, colleges may not want to wait for the CBSE and ISC results and might admit students based on the merit list of the HSC board,” says Seema Saini, principal, NL Dalmia High School. The Mumbai-based school is affiliated to the CISCE board and offers ISC curriculum to its class XII students.

Unless the college admits students entirely on the basis of its own entrance exams, the move will impact admissions to all colleges that either admit students on the basis of the board results alone, or give some weightage to board results despite conducting their own entrance exams.

Degree college principals say the current proposition would not be tenable in law since it deprives a section of students of a level playing field. They further point out the admission process and the academic calendar could be derailed if affected parents approach the courts petitioning against the University’s order. They suggest the   best option in the current situation would be for the Mumbai University to take back its circular and begin the admission process after all boards declare their results.