What is the story about?
What's Happening?
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is set to commence the online choice-filling process for undergraduate counselling on October 6, 2025. This process, crucial for admissions into agriculture and allied courses, faced delays due to issues with integrating a payment gateway with the State Bank of India (SBI). Initially, ICAR had partnered with another bank, which withdrew, necessitating a new arrangement with SBI. The Director General (Education) of ICAR, Dr. Joykrushna Jena, confirmed that if the integration is not completed by October 6, the process will begin on October 7. The counselling will include five rounds, each lasting three days, aiming to conclude by the third week of October. This marks a significant reduction from the usual five-day rounds, as ICAR seeks to expedite the process, which has already been delayed by over a month.
Why It's Important?
The timely execution of the ICAR counselling process is critical for students aspiring to enter agricultural universities. Delays in the process can disrupt academic schedules and create uncertainty for candidates. The integration with SBI is a pivotal step in ensuring a smooth transaction process for applicants. The decision to reduce the duration of each counselling round reflects ICAR's commitment to minimizing the impact of the delay. This development is significant for the agricultural education sector, as it affects the admission timelines and planning for both students and universities. The successful implementation of this process will set a precedent for future admissions, potentially influencing policy and operational strategies in educational institutions.
What's Next?
Once the online choice-filling begins, ICAR will proceed with the five rounds of counselling, aiming to complete the admissions by mid-October. The organization will monitor the integration process with SBI closely to avoid further delays. Universities participating in the counselling will need to adjust their schedules to accommodate the revised timeline. Students and educational institutions will be keenly observing the process, as any further delays could impact the start of the academic year. ICAR's ability to manage this situation effectively will be crucial in maintaining its credibility and ensuring a smooth transition for students into higher education.
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