Mumbai FYJC admissions: 13,000 more seats to be available this year

This is owing to an increase in the intake for science and commerce streams, coupled with the inclusion of technical courses for the first time in the online process.

Students will have a lot of options to choose from during the upcoming first-year junior college (FYJC) admissions. As many as 13,808 seats are available across Mumbai colleges this year, with the number of overall seats shooting up to 2,92,090 from 2,78,282 last year. This is owing to an increase in the intake for science and commerce streams, coupled with the inclusion of technical courses for the first time in the online process.

Around 39 newly opened colleges and inclusion of 6,030 seats for minimum competency vocational courses (MCVC) has led to a rise in the number of seats. (HT File)

Of the total intake capacity, 1,59,682 seats belong to the open category and will be filled online, while the remaining, 1,32,408 seats are distributed across in-house, minority, and management quotas. Students opting for these seats will have to sign up online, but admissions will be conducted at the college level.

Around 39 newly opened colleges and inclusion of 6,030 seats for minimum competency vocational courses (MCVC) has led to a rise in the number of seats, said education officials. “These are the two major reasons for growth in the intake capacity this year,” said BB Chavan, deputy director of education, Mumbai region. Until last year, MCVC admissions were done separately at the college-level.

But officials suspect many of these seats will not find any takers. “Every year, we observe that students prefer established colleges, especially those attached to degree colleges,” said Chavan. “Most of the seats in new colleges remain unfilled at the end of the admission rounds.”

Quota seats have increased significantly — by nearly 8,000 — this year from 1,24,448 last year to 1,32,408. This is good news for students, said principals, because those taking admissions in the quota will not be able to apply online.

A ‘zero round’ will be conducted for the quota seats before other rounds begin. Students who secure confirmed admissions in this round will be unable to apply for online admissions through the general category. “This will ease the pressure from general category students because there will be less competition,” said Chavan. He said until last year, students who secured admission through quota were also applying for online admissions in the hopes of getting a better college.

Across streams, the maximum number of seats has increased in the commerce stream in keeping with the trend of the past few years. Commerce seats have shot up to close to 1.6 lakh this year, from 1.61 lakh last year. Whereas, intake seats in the arts stream have fallen to 34,180 from 35,269, showing a dip in its popularity. "Today's youngsters are oriented towards enterprise hence commerce courses have become popular," said Vidyadhar Joshi, vice-principal, Vaze Kelkar College, Mulund. He said schools also do not take up initiatives to create awareness about careers in arts.