Bhubaneswar, Aug. 24: The merit list for admission to balance seats (spot) in junior colleges was published this morning. Candidates who have been shortlisted are required to register their names at the college allotted to them as given in the list.

Registration will open on August 26 at 2pm, after which a list of selected candidates would be put up on notice boards of the respective colleges. Spot admission will take place on August 27. Another round of admissions will be conducted offline from August 28 to September 3.

“Students have been asked to report at the given college on August 26 by 2pm, following which individual colleges will bring out a merit list. If students want to take admission in the newly allotted college, they have to get a college-leaving certificate within seven days from the college where they first took admission. The remaining students may still be considered for admission in colleges left with vacant seats,” S.N. Mohanty, principal of BJB (Junior) College, said.

The total sanctioned seat strength in the 1,301 junior colleges included in the e-admission process this year is 3,07,766. However, only 2,29,505 seats have been filled so far. Even after the “balance seat” and “vacant seat” admissions, more than 60,000 seats would remain unoccupied.

Of the nearly 3.53 lakh application forms submitted online, a little over 2.75 lakh forms were submitted at the 377 Students Academic Management System resource centres.

The list for balance seat admission includes students who have been upgraded to a college that they listed higher in their order of preference. However, to be considered for the upgrade, the candidate is required to have taken admission in the college allotted initially.

Classes at all junior colleges began on Tuesday. “BJB was my first choice. But getting admission there looks difficult since the number of applicants is five times the number of vacant seats. I am keeping my fingers crossed,” said Ajit, a candidate