Gujarat University (GU) has proposed a common formula for preparing merit lists for undergraduate and postgraduate courses across the state’s public universities, aiming to bring uniformity to the current system where institutions follow different criteria.
As per a report submitted to the state education department, merit should be calculated using aggregate marks that combine both theory and practical scores in subjects where applicable. Currently, some universities consider only theory marks while others include both, leading to disparities for students.
The proposal follows a recent meeting convened by GU to streamline the admission process across 14 public universities in Gujarat. Submitted on Tuesday, the report will now be reviewed by the education department ahead of the 2026 admission cycle.
The need for standardisation has grown as some universities operate through the Gujarat Common Admission Services (GCAS) platform, while others run separate centralised systems. The proposal is yet to receive final approval.
Cap on college choices in GCAS likely
The report also recommends limiting the number of college choices on the GCAS portal to make the admission process faster and more efficient.
Students may be allowed to select up to 10 colleges during choice filling. If a seat is allotted—for instance, at the fifth preference—they must confirm it to proceed; failure to do so will make them ineligible for subsequent rounds.
Choices ranked below the allotted college will be automatically removed after the first round. However, students may still be upgraded to higher-preference options in later rounds, subject to availability and merit.
The move is expected to shorten admission cycles, enabling most seats to be filled within three rounds, followed only by reshuffling rounds if needed.