All seats in govt engineering colleges filled in first WBJEE counselling round, says Suvendu

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said in a social media post that the all seats in Government Engineering Colleges have been filled up in the first round of West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board (WBJEE) counselling, suggesting that it reflects the growing confidence in the state’s higher education system.

“It is a matter of great pride and optimism to see that for the first time in many years, all seats in Government Engineering Colleges have been filled in the very first round of WBJEE Counselling,” Adhikari posted on X.

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“This trend clearly indicates that our bright students are increasingly choosing to pursue higher technical education in our own State. It is heartening to see our youth reposing their faith in the academic environment of West Bengal,” he wrote.

“Our government remains steadfastly committed to elevating the quality of higher education across the State. We are taking proactive steps to modernize our institutions and foster an ecosystem of innovation and excellence,” he added.

It is a matter of great pride and optimism to see that for the first time in many years, all seats in Government Engineering Colleges have been filled in the very first round of WBJEE Counselling.
This trend clearly indicates that our bright Students are increasingly choosing to… pic.twitter.com/eppbNS2H13

— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) July 9, 2026

“Our ultimate goal is to transform ‘Brain Drain’ into ‘Brain Gain’ by creating world-class opportunities right here at home, ensuring that our talented youth can build their future and contribute to the growth of West Bengal,” he wrote.

Adhikari’s remarks came after the completion of the first round of WBJEE counselling for the 2026 academic session, which showed an unprecedented rise in admissions to engineering, technology and architecture courses across the state.

All government and government-aided engineering colleges and universities have reported almost 100 percent seat occupancy after the first round of counselling, a feat achieved after several years. Private engineering colleges and universities have also recorded significant seat allotments.

A total of 36,431 candidates registered for engineering admissions through WBJEE counselling this year, compared to 27,135 in the first-round last year, registering a 34.26 per cent increase. The number of applicants has gone up by 9,296 over the previous year.

The data also highlights a sharp rise in the participation of women. Female applicants increased from 6,718 last year to 9,528 this year, registering a 41.85 per cent growth. The number of male applicants rose from 20,417 to 26,902, an increase of 31.78 per cent. Admissions are currently underway in 87 engineering institutions across West Bengal.

The first-round admission process will continue till July 11, following which two more rounds of counselling will be held. The entire admission process is expected to be completed within July.

Officials said the encouraging response indicates that measures such as advancing the counselling schedule and making the admission process more transparent and efficient have begun to yield results.