Bhubaneswar, May 12: Online application for admission to state's junior colleges (Plus Two) will begin on May 23 for the upcoming academic session, while for degree colleges the process will commence on June 20, higher education officials confirmed today.

The department has limited e-admission to 45 days this year and prepared a detailed schedule accordingly. More than seven lakh students are expected to apply for admissions online this year.

It has also decided to crack down on illegally functioning Sanskrit colleges, which have been in the news recently for handing out fake degrees. It has, for the first time, brought the 168 recognised Sanskrit colleges in the state under the purview of e-admissions as well. Vocational colleges have also been included under the e-admission system from this year. Accordingly, the department has directed the Odisha Computer Application Centre to make necessary arrangements and provide the required training to staff members of these colleges.

The e-admission process will include selection criteria for honours and hostel accommodation, much to the convenience of students and their parents.

Eligible candidates will be selected on the basis of their aggregate marks in the mark sheet issued by their respective boards instead of the marks obtained in the best five subjects, as was done in previous years.

"Once the process starts, it will restrict the colleges from increasing or decreasing seats as it requires alterations in the software causing unnecessary delay and mistakes<>. Admissions to junior colleges, including transfers, will be completed by November 30," said a senior higher education official.

In order to reduce the workload and minimise time taken to complete the process, the department has decided to integrate the complete database of students, who successfully passed the matriculation examination, in the software. The Sanjog helpline, used during the e-admission period to address the queries of students and parents will also be streamlined.

The common application fee has also been increased this year to control the rising cost of implementing Students Academic Management System (Sams). The students will now have to pay Rs 120 for their first option, instead of Rs 100 in previous years, and Rs 50 for every subsequent option.

It has also been decided that the Sams Resource Centre will contribute Rs 75 per common application fee to the Sams society fund from this year. Those centres collecting more than Rs 1.25 lakh per session will also contribute to the Sams society fund.