Srinagar, Oct 26: Undergraduate admissions in several disciplines across government degree colleges in north Kashmir have declined, while admissions to multiple subjects have been discontinued since 2025, according to official figures assessed by Greater Kashmir.
The trend comes despite the government’s claims of an overall increase in college admissions, highlighting the challenge of attracting students to several undergraduate programmes, particularly in newly established colleges.
The official figures show declining enrolment across humanities, social sciences and science streams in colleges in Bandipora, Baramulla and Kupwara districts. English Literature, Urdu Literature, Sociology and several other disciplines figure among the affected subjects.
In Bandipora district, Government Degree College Ajas discontinued admissions in English Literature, Urdu Literature and Sociology in 2025, while enrolment in Education also declined.
At Government Degree College Gurez, admissions in English Literature, Education, Sociology and Kashmiri Literature have been discontinued. The reported admissions figures for English Literature and Education have fallen to zero.
Government Degree College Sumbal has recorded declining enrolment in Urdu Literature, Economics, Psychology, Sociology, Geography, Education and Chemistry. At Government Degree College Tulail, admissions in English Literature were discontinued in 2025.
Government Degree College Hajin has also reported declining admissions in English Literature, Economics, Urdu Literature and History, among other subjects.
The situation in Baramulla district is similar, with several colleges reporting falling enrolment across multiple disciplines.
Admissions in Urdu Literature, History, English Literature, Sociology and Education have declined across colleges in the district. Government Degree College Baramulla has also recorded a decline in admissions to Food Technology.
Government Degree College Hadipora discontinued admissions in English Literature, Urdu Literature and Islamic Studies in 2025, while Government Degree College Tangmarg has reported declining enrolment across several disciplines.
At Government Degree College Sopore, admissions have declined in English Literature, Botany, Sociology, Economics, Persian Literature and Education, among other subjects.
Government Degree College Uri has reported declining admissions in English Literature, Urdu Literature, Zoology, Economics and Political Science.
At Government Women’s College Baramulla, admissions in Finance were discontinued in 2025.
Government Women’s College Sopore has discontinued admissions in several subjects, including Home Science, Arabic Literature, Kashmiri Literature, Tourism and Travel Management, Social Work and Sociology.
In Kupwara district, several government degree colleges have also recorded declining enrolment across multiple disciplines.
Government Degree College Handwara has reported declining admissions in Chemistry, English Literature, Business Administration, Sociology, Arabic Literature, Urdu Literature, Economics and Geology, among other subjects.
At Government Degree College Kupwara, enrolment has declined in Arabic Literature, Biochemistry, Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Urdu Literature, Education, Zoology, Political Science, Sociology and Environmental Science. Admissions in Persian Literature and Tourism and Travel Management were discontinued in 2025.
Government Degree College Langate has discontinued admissions in Urdu Literature, while Political Science, Sociology, Education and Mathematics or Applied Mathematics have recorded declining enrolment.
At Government Women’s College Kupwara, admissions in Urdu Literature and Chemistry were discontinued in 2025.
The figures come amid the government’s assertion that admissions in degree colleges have increased overall. Education Minister Sakina Itoo had earlier said that admissions in degree colleges had risen by 18 per cent compared with the previous year.
However, attracting students to newly established degree colleges remains a challenge, with the government having acknowledged in the Legislative Assembly that students tend to prefer established colleges over newer institutions.
