Riyaz Bhat
Srinagar, Apr 16: Higher Education Department Thursday decided to discontinue Common University Entrance Test (CUET) based admission for Undergraduate (UG) admissions for the academic session 2026–27 in all Government Degree Colleges (GDCs) of J&K.
The department further decided to revert to a merit-based system on Class 12 scores.
In the previous academic session, the department had exempted 64 Government Degree Colleges from making admissions through CUET score for academic session 2024-25 in wake of low CUET based admissions in many degree colleges of Jammu and Kashmir.
Higher Education Department in a fresh notice said, “All undergraduate admissions for the session 2026–27 across all GDCs in J&K shall be granted on Non-CUET basis as per 10+2 scores and merit.”
It also said that all students shall be required to register and apply through a centralised admission portal. “The allotment of colleges shall be made on the basis of 10+2 merit and the preferences submitted by the candidates.”
The department further said that the information is being issued in advance to enable students and parents to prepare for the upcoming admission cycle. “Students are advised to note the following important changes and updates for the session 2026–27.”
As already reported, there are ‘no takers’ of the government colleges of J&K that are facing dismal student enrolment.
Till the March-2026, the government had informed that GDC Baghi Dilawar Khan and GDC Chattisinghpora have no active student enrolment, as the previous enrolment levels were not adequate to sustain a viable academic environment and the institutions have not attracted sufficient student admissions,” the government said.
It also said “GDC Chattisinghpora and GDC Baghi Dilawar Khan are presently placed under the charge of Government Degree College, Anantnag and S.P College, Srinagar, respectively, for administrative oversight,”
The Higher Education Department had also informed the house that less than 30 students were enrolled in each of the 13 colleges of Jammu and Kashmir.
The government figures also said that at least five colleges of Jammu and Kashmir were functioning with an enrolment of less than twenty students in 2025 and eight colleges were functioning with less than 30 students respectively.
The figures further reveal that in 14 colleges in Jammu and Kashmir, fewer than 50 students were enrolled in each college.
Furthermore, 24 government colleges were having less than 100 students enrolled in each college.
The government figures also reveal that in 13 colleges of Jammu and Kashmir, only 100-300 students were enrolled in each college.
Pertinently, in April-2025, KNO reported that in wake of low CUET based admissions in many degree colleges of Jammu and Kashmir, Higher Education Department had exempted 64 Government Degree Colleges from making admissions through CUET score for academic session 2024-25.
The department had further said that many other students did not prefer to seek admission through the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) mode keeping in view their geographical locations, topography and availability of the infrastructure.
The government in the respective communique had said that among the colleges that have been exempted from making admissions through CUET score for academic session 2024-25 includes 35 government colleges of Jammu division and 29 of Kashmir region respectively.
“In view of very low CUET based admissions in some government degree colleges during last year admissions, the situation was revisited this year after discussions with all the stakeholders and it was decided to identify the colleges where the students did not prefer to seek admission through the CUET mode keeping in view their geographical locations, topography, availability of the infrastructure etcetera and where the CUET based admissions were very low during last year,” it reads.
