Bhubaneswar, July 6: The second selection merit list for admission into degree colleges was released today on www.dheorissa.in, the website of the department of higher education (DHE).

According to official sources, 10,754 candidates have been shortlisted for the second round of admissions to be held on July 11 and 12. While the intimation cards have been sent out by post, the applicants can also check the merit list and the cut-off marks for different colleges on the website.

In the second selection list, colleges have lowered the qualifying marks by two to six per cent in arts, science and commerce streams for general category students.

The cut-off percentage for students belonging to reserved categories such as scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and physically handicapped among others are also available on the website.

This year, most of the leading colleges had pegged their cut-off marks in the first list higher in comparison to last year’s. After the announcement of Plus Two results on May 30, 74,968 students had applied for admission into various undergraduate courses.

Out of the 48,019 candidates intimated as per the first selection list, 37,114 took admission into different colleges between June 29 and July 1.

The total number of sanctioned seats in the 162 degree colleges is 57,312. Last year, it was only 60. The selection list for SC/ST “extension seats” will be announced on July 18 and their admissions will take place on July 20.

In case of further vacancies in any of the colleges, there would be a spot admission on July 25 after a list in this regard is published on July 22.

Accordingly, the candidates have to register their names on the DHE website on July 23.

The classes for the first year students in all degree colleges are scheduled to start from July 27.