Srinagar, Sep 27: In a major challenge for the government, several undergraduate subjects across different colleges in Jammu and Kashmir have witnessed a sharp decline in student admissions, forcing the Higher Education Department (HED) to discontinue admissions in subjects where the response has been either zero or negligible.
The development has come at a time when the government has claimed an 18 per cent increase in undergraduate admissions in colleges across J&K. The statement highlights a contrasting trend at individual colleges and in several academic disciplines.
As per official figures, Government Degree College (GDC) Baderwah recorded a 100 per cent decline in admissions in Computer Applications. Against a sanctioned intake of 40 students, the college recorded only five admissions in 2023 and six in 2024, while no student took admission in the subject in 2025. Following the zero response, admissions in the subject were discontinued.
At GDC Doda, Arabic witnessed an 85 per cent decline in admissions. The college recorded 14 admissions in 2023, four in 2024 and just two in 2025. Against an intake capacity of 80 seats, 78 remained vacant.
GDC Kastigarh in Doda also recorded a complete collapse in admissions in Urdu. The college registered three admissions in the subject in 2023, followed by zero admissions in both 2024 and 2025, prompting discontinuation of admissions in the subject.
At GDC Kilhotran, admissions in Urdu declined by 95 per cent. The subject had 22 admissions in 2023 and 24 in 2024, but the number fell to just one in 2025. Against 80 sanctioned seats, 79 are currently vacant.
GDC Akhnoor in Jammu witnessed a similar trend in Business Studies. The subject recorded 30 admissions in 2023 and 21 in 2024, before registering zero admissions in 2025, resulting in a 100 per cent decline.
GDC Bishnah recorded a 100 per cent decline in Mathematics admissions. The subject had 11 admissions in 2023, but recorded no admissions subsequently, leaving all 40 sanctioned seats vacant.
Physics at GDC Bishnah also witnessed a 100 per cent decline, with all 30 sanctioned seats remaining vacant.
The Business School at the University of Jammu’s Baderwah campus also witnessed a 100 per cent decline in admissions in Business Regulation, following which admissions in the subject were discontinued.
At GDC Bijbehara, Accounting and Taxation recorded two admissions in 2023, followed by a complete decline in admissions, prompting discontinuation of the subject.
The college has also witnessed a decline in admissions across several major subjects, including English Literature, History, Physics, Mathematics, Education, Urdu Literature and Geography.
Islamic Studies, Botany and other subjects at the college have also faced serious intake-related concerns, with some subjects having no intake and no current sanction for the academic year.
GDC Bomai, meanwhile, recorded a 100 per cent decline in admissions in Botany.
The figures point out a growing mismatch between sanctioned seats and actual student demand for several undergraduate disciplines as some colleges have recorded almost complete vacancies in individual subjects.
As already reported by this newspaper, the government, in the ongoing autumn session, informed the Legislative Assembly that a committee was constituted for rationalisation of subjects and introduction of new programmes, which are industry-aligned, skill-based, and future-ready courses (including under NEP 2020’s FYUGP) in Government Degree Colleges of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The committee has issued various recommendation, and directives to the Director Colleges, J&K and Nodal Principals, Jammu/Kashmir Division Colleges for taking necessary measures regarding the various issues,” the government informed the House.
The House was informed that the committee has expressed concern over declining trends in admission across a large number of GDCs, particularly those located in rural and remote areas.
“The committee recommended undertaking a comprehensive programme-wise review of enrolment in all GDCs and deliberated upon the need to adopt a cluster-based academic model,” the reply reads.
As per the government reply, the committee has recommended introduction of One-Year Postgraduate Programmes for eligible graduates of the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP) in colleges possessing the requisite academic and infrastructural facilities.
“After considering emerging employment opportunities and future workforce requirements, the committee recommends the introduction of new programmes in selected GDCs,” the House was informed.
The subjects recommended the by the committee include Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cyber Security, Remote Sensing and other emerging technology-oriented fields particularly in Colleges located around Jammu and Srinagar “where adequate infrastructure and faculty can be developed.”
