GCAS Round 1 ends as St Xavier’s admission row fuels confusion

Ahmedabad: Two parallel admission processes — the Gujarat Common Admission Services (GCAS) and the independent admissions exercise undertaken by St Xavier’s College in Ahmedabad — have created confusion among thousands of students and parents, many of whom are uncertain whether to accept seats allotted through the state portal or wait for clarity on admissions at the prestigious college.

The GCAS has completed the first round of admissions for colleges affiliated with state universities. However, the ongoing dispute over the admission process at St Xavier’s College, which is affiliated with Gujarat University, has left many applicants in a dilemma.

During the first round, seats were allotted to more than 3.5 lakh students across colleges linked to state universities. Yet, only around 67,000 students have confirmed their admissions so far, indicating that a large number of applicants are likely to participate in the second round.

Amid this, St Xavier’s College proceeded with a separate admission process and invited online registrations directly from students. According to reports, more than 3,000 students registered with the college. Many of them had also applied through GCAS and some were allotted seats during the first round.

The overlapping processes have left students unsure about their next move. While several applicants believe they stand a strong chance of securing admission to St Xavier’s on merit, they remain uncertain whether the college’s direct admission route will continue in light of the ongoing legal dispute.

Sources said the matter was expected to come up for hearing before the Gujarat high court on Thursday, a development that could provide greater clarity on the status of admissions at the college.

As a result, many students are hesitant to confirm seats allotted through GCAS, fearing they may lose an opportunity to study at St Xavier’s. Others who declined their first-round allotments are now uncertain whether to accept offers in the upcoming second round.

Meanwhile, GCAS is expected to announce second-round allotments within the next two days after revising seat allocations based on students’ updated preferences.

Adding another dimension to the process, 24 newly approved colleges in districts including Ahmedabad, Mahisagar, Gir Somnath, Banaskantha, Morbi, Botad and Gandhinagar have been included in the second round, expanding the options available to applicants.