WBDAP 2026: West Bengal Decentralised UG Admission Portal Launch Postponed Amidst Vacant Seats

The West Bengal Higher Education Department, in conjunction with the West Bengal State Council of Higher Education (WBSCHE), has today, 5 September 2026, postponed the introduction of its new online system for decentralised undergraduate admissions, known as the West Bengal Decentralised UG Admission Portal (WBDAP) 2026. This decision came just hours after the department had announced the portal would become operational from Thursday, leaving colleges awaiting further instructions.

The deferment of the decentralised UG admission portal is a direct response to a significant number of undergraduate seats remaining unfilled across state-aided colleges, even after three extensive rounds of admissions conducted through the Centralised Admission Portal (CAP). With over five lakh UG seats still vacant, the department aims to address the persistent challenge of under-enrolment in the state’s higher education institutions.

Wbdap 2026: Context of Postponement and Vacant Seats

The West Bengal Higher Education Department had initially issued an order on August 31, 2026, outlining the proposed launch of the decentralised admission portal, signaling a shift in the admission process. However, on Wednesday evening, colleges across West Bengal received fresh instructions indicating that the decentralised admission process had been postponed until further directions. This abrupt change highlights the complexities and challenges faced in managing admissions for the academic year 2026-2027.

Currently, out of approximately 8.5 lakh undergraduate seats available across 460 state-aided institutions, only about 4 lakh have been allocated through the Centralised Admission Portal (CAP). Also, only around 3.8 lakh students have successfully completed their admissions during the first three rounds. This leaves a staggering number of over five lakh UG seats vacant, underscoring the urgency behind the department’s efforts to smooth out and make better the admission process.

Wbcap 2026: Admission Schedule Overview

The Centralised Admission Portal (WBCAP) 2026 has been the primary gateway for admissions to UG courses and programmes offered by 459 government and government-aided colleges and universities across West Bengal. The portal supports admissions for 7042 courses and programmes for students who have passed their 10+2 examinations. The admission process for the 2026-2027 academic session has already undergone three phases, including a Mop-Up Round, in an attempt to fill the available seats.

The WBCAP Merit List 2026 for Phase 1 was released on June 9, 2026, at 10:00 AM, along with the seat allocation list, on the official portal wbcap.in. Candidates shortlisted in Phase 1 had until June 15, 2026, to confirm their seat by paying the semester fee online or opting for an upgrade. The upgraded round merit list for Phase 1 was next published on June 20, 2026, with physical verification of admitted candidates scheduled from June 27 to July 4, 2026. Classes for the new session were originally slated to commence on July 6, 2026.

Wbcap 2026: MOP-UP and Phase 3 Admissions

Following the initial rounds, the Mop-Up Round (Phase 2) for WBCAP 2026 commenced on July 7, 2026, with the publication of vacant seats. Applications for this phase were open until July 16, 2026. The merit list and allocation list for the Mop-Up round were published on July 19, 2026, with admissions against seat allotment taking place from July 19 to July 22, 2026. The upgraded round merit list for Phase 2 was published on July 26, 2026, and admissions against these allotments were conducted from July 26 to July 29, 2026. Physical verification for candidates admitted after the Mop-Up Round was scheduled from August 2 to August 5, 2026.

Recognizing the continued vacancies, the State Government in the Higher Education Department decided to initiate a third phase of admission for Undergraduate General Degree courses through the WB.CAP portal. The vacancy lists for Phase 3 were published on August 8, 2026, with applications open from August 8 to August 10, 2026. The merit list and allocation list for Phase 3 were published on August 13, 2026, and admissions against these allotments were conducted from August 13 to August 15, 2026. The upgraded round seat allotment for Phase 3 was published on August 17, 2026, with admissions from August 17 to August 19, 2026. Physical verification for Phase 3 admitted candidates was scheduled from August 20 to August 22, 2026.

Wbcap 2026 Admission Schedule: Important Dates

Written by Simran

Simran is currently working as a Senior Content Writer at Findmycollege , where she creates engaging and research-driven learning resources for students. She has completed her Graduation in Journalism from Delhi University. With 4 years of experience in the EdTech industry, she has previously contributed to leading platforms like Leverage Edu and Aakash. Her expertise lies in simplifying Engineering and Medical entrance exam content to guide aspirants in their preparation journey. Beyond writing, Simran enjoys sketching, watching movies, and finding creative inspiration in everyday life.

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