BDS admissions: 30 seats vacant after 8th round in Maharashtra institutes

After eighth round of admission, around 30 seats in state government dental institutes remain vacant

After eighth round of admission, around 30 seats in state government dental institutes remain vacant. According to the state common entrance test (CET) cell, this is the first time when eight rounds of common admissions for seats in four government-run dental colleges were conducted.

Representational picture. (HT Photo)

“This year due to the delay in admissions, the Dental Council of India announced that BDS admissions will continue till January 31, therefore we added more mop-up rounds. Never before have we conducted these many rounds of admission,” said an official from the CET cell. He added that a final list of vacant seats across state institutes will be released soon for the benefit of students.

After completing two common admission rounds, the state CET cell has conducted six stray vacancy rounds to fill up the vacant seats in dental colleges.

While admissions to MBBS courses ended on January 15, the dental council realised that the vast number of vacant seats in central institutes across the country needs to be filled, therefore the council extended the admission deadline by two weeks for BDS alone. According to information shared by the Maharashtra CET cell, 35% seats were left vacant across government and private dental colleges this year after five rounds of admissions.

Experts have once again reiterated on the need for spot admission, instead of common admission round to fill remaining vacant seats. “Stray vacancy rounds are being conducted based on application forms submitted at the beginning of the admissions season. A large number of these students have already confirmed admissions elsewhere and have not cancelled their admission forms. The state should now allow spot admissions and to approach institutes directly for a seat,” said Muzaffar Khan, a Thane-based medical education counsellor.

In the first week of January, the Directorate General of Health Sciences (DGHS) had revealed 163% increase in seat vacancy in the management and NRI quotas of deemed dental institutes in Maharashtra, compared to last year.