Usually, January is the month when students of Class XI start preparing for ensuing examinations. However, due to COVID-19 pandemic and Maratha quota complexities, the admission process itself got delayed and the delay has extended into January. As a result, despite conducting three regular rounds and two special rounds, as many as 27,012 seats of Class XI are still vacant in Nagpur.

 

As per the details, COVID-19 pandemic last year first cast shadow of uncertainty over conduct of examinations. After much deliberations, way out was found and the results were declared. However, due to the pandemic situation, the centralised admission process for Class XI got delayed. The ‘zero round’ itself started in August 2020. Of total 59,250 seats available for centralised admission process, only 2,490 seats were filled between August 12 and August 22, in ‘zero round’. Round-1 was conducted from August 31 to September 3.

 

In that round, the number of seats filled was 13,146.

 

In the next two months, the complexities arising out of Maratha quota affected Class XI admission process. As a result, the Round-2 was conducted from December 5 to December 9, only 6,895 seats were filled. Only 2,050 seats were filled in Round-3 conducted from December 15 to December 18.

 

Considering the situation and anxiety among students and parents regarding the completion of admission process and commencement of academic session, Special Round-1 was conducted from December 29 to December 31, 2020. However, even this round after three regular rounds, only 6,500 seats were filled.

 

Further, the Special Round-2 was conducted on January 6 and 7, 2021. This round saw merely 1,157 admissions out of 1,312 seats allotted. The seats filled included 991 regular and 166 from quota. The total 1,157 admissions included the highest 722 in Science stream, followed by 273 in Commerce, 88 in MCVC, and 74 in Arts. Still, at the end of Special Round-2, of the total intake capacity of 59,250 in 216 colleges in Nagpur, only 32,238 seats were filled. Thus, a total of 27,012 were vacant at the end of Special Round-2. Following requests from students and parents as well as junior colleges, Education Department extended the time for submission of application for Bifocal courses till January 8 (Friday). Further, for ease of admissions, the time for confirmation of admissions in junior colleges was extended (including for Bifocal admissions) till 6 pm on January 9 (Saturday).