Bhubaneswar, July 2: The first selection list for Plus Two junior colleges was published today along with the cut-off marks in 1,431 colleges across the state.

The cut-off marks are now available on the department of higher education website www.dheorissa.in.

The higher education department’s e-admission officer-in-charge Mihir Kumar Das said students who had been selected in the first phase admission could download their intimation letters from the website.

Students, who have qualified for the first phase admission, are bound to take admission in the respective colleges, failing which, they will be debarred from admission in any other college in this academic session, said the official.

Admission of students selected during the first phase will be held between July 7 and 10. The second selection list will be published on July 15 and admissions for these students will be conducted between July 18 and 21. Contrary to apprehensions of a dip in cut-off marks, there was an increase in premier colleges of the state.

In BJB Junior College, the cut-off for science jumped from 91.2 per cent in 2013 to 91.83 per cent this year. In Arts, the cut-off increased from 63.83 per cent in 2013 to 67.67 per cent this time and in commerce, the increase has been from 78.67 per cent in 2013 to 79.80 per cent this year.

In Ravenshaw Junior College, the increase was noticed across all streams. The cut-off jumped from 90.67 per cent to 91.2 per cent in science, from 63.33 per cent to 67.17 per cent in Arts and from 77.33 per cent to 76.50 per cent in commerce.

“We were apprehending that the cut-offs would drop owing to the evaluation goof-up. But that hasn’t been the case. It’s a matter of pride for the college that we would be welcoming such bright students,” said a senior faculty at BJB Junior College.

Even lesser known colleges such as Maharshi College, Kamala Nehru College and the City Women’s College too are seeing a rise in cut-off marks. Colleges have attributed it to high marks.

“Gone are the days when 60 per cent marks used to be a benchmark for the students. There are bright students across all boards and hence the high cut-offs,” said RD Women’s College principal Chitrangada Samantsinghar.