What's Happening?
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is set to commence the online choice-filling for undergraduate counselling on October 6, 2025. This process is contingent upon the completion of bank payment gateway integration with the State Bank of India (SBI). Initially scheduled for mid-September, the counselling was delayed due to a previous bank backing out, necessitating a restart with SBI. Dr. Joykrushna Jena, Director General (Education) at ICAR, confirmed that the counselling will begin by October 6 or 7, depending on the readiness of the payment system. The counselling will include five rounds, each lasting three days, aiming to conclude by the third week of October. This marks a reduction from the usual five-day rounds, intended to expedite the process.
Why It's Important?
The delay in the ICAR counselling process has significant implications for students seeking admission to undergraduate agriculture and allied courses. The integration of the payment gateway is crucial for the smooth operation of the online choice-filling system, affecting thousands of candidates. The streamlined process aims to mitigate the impact of the delay, ensuring that admissions are completed in a timely manner. This development is particularly important as it addresses the coordination challenges with universities and the need for academic approvals, which have historically caused setbacks. The successful implementation of this process will provide clarity and stability for students and educational institutions involved.
What's Next?
Once the payment gateway integration is complete, ICAR will proceed with the counselling rounds, aiming to finish by mid-October. The updated seat matrix and eligibility criteria have been communicated to participating universities, which are now accepting a broader range of subject combinations for admission. The focus will be on ensuring that the process runs smoothly and efficiently, avoiding further delays. Stakeholders, including students and universities, will be closely monitoring the situation to ensure that the admissions process is completed as planned.
Beyond the Headlines
The delay in the ICAR counselling process highlights the complexities involved in coordinating large-scale educational initiatives. The reliance on banking systems for payment integration underscores the importance of robust infrastructure in facilitating educational processes. This situation also reflects broader challenges in the education sector, where technological and administrative hurdles can impact timelines and outcomes. The move to reduce the duration of counselling rounds is a strategic decision aimed at minimizing disruption and ensuring that students can begin their academic pursuits without undue delay.
