FYJC admissions go online across Maharashtra: What does it mean? How will it help?

As junior colleges have been asked to start registration on the portal, various concerns are being raised over the changes introduced this year.

What is the change in FYJC admissions?

Starting from the 2025–26 academic year, the online CAP system for FYJC admissions, which was previously limited to five regions, will now be implemented across all parts of Maharashtra. This means that the system already in place in MMR, Pune-Pimpri Chinchwad, Nagpur, Nashik, and Amravati will now be adopted statewide.

In areas where CAP was already being followed, the process remains unchanged. However, students in all other parts of Maharashtra will now have to apply for FYJC admissions online and will no longer need to physically visit junior colleges to submit applications. Every student will apply online, and seat allotment will be merit-based.

What was the old FYJC admission process? How will the new process help?

Until now, in all regions outside the five where online CAP was in place, students followed the traditional method of admission. After the SSC results were declared, students had to visit individual colleges to apply for admission. This involved submitting physical application forms to multiple colleges and returning later to check seat allotments and confirm their admissions.

According to the Maharashtra government, the new move aims to bring uniformity and transparency to the admission process across the state. By conducting admissions through the online CAP, the government hopes to reduce human intervention and eliminate opportunities for manipulation or malpractice during the admission process.

What is the apprehension among stakeholders?

Despite the government’s intentions, the change has sparked uncertainty among students, parents, and especially junior colleges that are new to the online CAP system. While some of this has been described as typical resistance of any first-time implementation, several colleges — particularly those in rural areas — have raised specific concerns. They argue that the existing online CAP system was developed with urban requirements in mind and may not be well suited to the realities of rural Maharashtra.

The principal of one such junior college pointed out that the online system was introduced in cities over a decade ago to address issues such as excessive demand for limited seats in popular urban colleges. “This situation is particular to urban areas and does not exist in most rural regions,” he said, also highlighting that the lack of infrastructure, such as computers and reliable internet access, could pose challenges for students in these areas to apply online for FYJC admissions. He said, “These issues will be clearer as college registration has now begun.”

Additionally, concerns have been raised based on past experiences. A few parent activists have pointed out that Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, which was earlier part of the select few regions in the state where online CAP was conducted for FYJC admissions, was permitted to opt out of it due to a significant number of vacancies.

As the state government remains firm on its decision, despite the concerns, it has led to growing anxiety among students and parents as the SSC results approach and the admissions are scheduled to start from May 19, 2025.

What is the online CAP process?

According to detailed guidelines issued by the Maharashtra government, the first phase of the online CAP for FYJC admissions will begin on May 19. The state has already opened its official portal on Friday so that junior colleges can begin to register.

After the SSC results are out (expected before May 15), candidate registrations will begin on the portal with a fee of Rs 100 per student. Each candidate will have to provide options of colleges (minimum of 1 and maximum of 10) in order of their preference, following which seats will be allotted based on merit. If a candidate is allotted a seat in his/her first preferred junior college, it has to be confirmed, or else the candidate is barred from participating in the subsequent round.

If a candidate is allotted a seat in colleges which are second to tenth in their order of preference, he or she can decide to wait for a better seat allotment in the next round. There will be a separate online process on merit that will run simultaneously for admission on seats covered under minority and in-house quotas.

After four regular rounds of admissions, there will be a special ‘Open for All’ round, a new feature introduced this year. “It will be like on-the-spot admissions but online,” an official from the school education department looking after the FYJC admissions said. “In this round, vacant seats in colleges will be displayed online for students to apply immediately within a specified time frame. If more students apply than available seats, a merit-based allotment will be conducted. If fewer students apply, all applicants will be granted admission,” the official explained.