Calcutta University Colleges Seek UG Seat Cuts Amid Declining Enrolment
Several colleges affiliated with Calcutta University are actively considering reducing their undergraduate seats in response to a persistent yearly decline in student enrolment. Two institutions have already formally appealed to the university to decrease their seat allocations ahead of the upcoming fresh admission season, highlighting a growing trend across the region.
Specific College Appeals and Enrolment Statistics
New Alipore College and Maheshtala College have both sent official letters to Calcutta University after witnessing significant drops in student numbers across various subjects. At New Alipore College, only approximately 1,200 of the total 2,800 available seats were filled during the last academic year. Meanwhile, Maheshtala College experienced an even more dramatic shortfall, with only 250 of its 1,500 seats being occupied.
New Alipore College has specifically requested seat reductions in Sanskrit, philosophy, mathematics, and economics. College principal Jaydeep Sarangi explained the situation, stating, "For the last few years, we have been receiving very few students in these subjects, despite each having an average capacity of 40 to 60 seats. However, last year, only one student enrolled in Sanskrit major, while enrolment in the other three courses remained in single digits. We do not anticipate any improvement this year either, which is why we have formally requested the university to consider our appeal."
Maheshtala College has taken a broader approach, requesting a 50% reduction in its total undergraduate seats. Following a decision by the college governing body, the institution appealed to reduce seats in nearly all subjects, including Bengali, Sanskrit, philosophy, economics, and computer science. Principal Rumpa Das noted, "The governing body made this decision after carefully reviewing enrolment trends over recent years. We have already submitted our letter to the university and are awaiting an alteration in the official seat matrix."
Broader Implications and Accreditation Concerns
Principals from other colleges have indicated they are contemplating similar measures, as low enrolment creates substantial difficulties during National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accreditation processes and institutional ranking systems, where the student-teacher ratio plays a critical role. The principal of a college in South 24 Parganas district revealed, "We are also planning to pursue seat reductions because last year we had zero enrolment in Sanskrit, which was allocated 30 seats. In subjects like mathematics and chemistry, student numbers are similarly in single digits. When we apply for NAAC accreditation, this situation could severely impact our overall student-teacher ratio assessment."
Contrasting Demand for Multidisciplinary Courses
In a contrasting development, Panchur College in Mahestala has appealed for an increase in seats for its three-year multidisciplinary course. Lopamudra Bandyopadhyay, the Teacher-in-Charge of the college, explained that based on experience from the past two to three years, the institution found many students are eager to pursue the multidisciplinary program but are often turned away due to limited capacity. "Given the growing interest in admission to multidisciplinary courses, we have formally appealed for an increase in seats specifically for this program," she stated.
University-Wide Enrolment Trends and Data
Last year, out of 9.4 lakh undergraduate seats available across colleges throughout Bengal, only 2.7 lakh were filled through the centralized admission portal. Most colleges affiliated with Calcutta University participate in this centralized admission process. University officials have expressed serious concern about the sharp decline in student enrolment at Calcutta University colleges over recent years, with the number dropping to approximately 76,000 for the 2025-26 academic session.
The situation reflects broader challenges in higher education enrolment patterns, with traditional subjects facing particular difficulties while newer multidisciplinary programs show increased demand. Colleges are now taking proactive measures to align their seat allocations with actual student interest and enrolment capabilities.
