Bhubaneswar, Aug. 4: The state government has decided to raise Plus Three seats by 7.5 per cent in colleges where no seat would be lying vacant after completion of the admission process.

"We hope that it will help more students study in the college of their choice," said higher education minister Anant Das.

The rule won't apply to colleges that have vacant seats left after the admission process. The rule will also not be applicable to self-financing courses.

Even after the third round of admission, Plus Three colleges across the state were left with around with 70,000 seats in 834 degree colleges.

Out of 2,17,973 seats, admission has been conducted in 1,46,778 seats with 71,196 seats lying vacant in arts, commerce, physical science, biological science and self-financing courses.

Following the huge number of vacancies, the state government hosted another round of fresh admission recently, the process of which is continuing.

The number of vacant seats in junior colleges has increased as compared to last year when the total number of vacant seats was around 34,000.

Stating that the colleges were already struggling with teacher shortage and inadequate laboratories, educationists wondered why the government had made the announcement.

"The teaching workload on the college must be managed by the existing sanctioned strength for the college. If the government does not provide support in terms of manpower and infrastructure, increasing the number of seats makes no sense," said educationist Gayatri Kar.

The admission for the selected applicants in the second phase will be held from August 16 to 18.