WBJEE 2026 Decentralised Counselling: Potential for Third Phase Amid Vacant Seats

The West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board (WBJEEB) has officially concluded the first two phases of the decentralised counselling process for the 2026 academic session. While the board initially scheduled only two phases for the Decentralised Counselling and Admission Process (DCAP), the persistence of vacant seats across various government and private engineering colleges has led to widespread speculation regarding the possibility of a third phase.

Throughout the initial two phases, seat allocations were determined based on candidate rankings, individual preferences, and overall seat availability. Each phase comprised two rounds, allowing students to either secure their allotted seats or pursue options for upgradation. Across the entire process, approximately 33,857 BTech seats were made available for allocation in participating institutions throughout the state.

Status of Vacant Seats and Student Demands

Despite the completion of the scheduled phases, official data from the WBJEE decentralised counselling admission portal indicates that a significant number of seats remain unfilled. This has prompted many students to call for an additional round of counselling to fill these vacancies. There is a notable preference among the student body for an offline counselling format, as some candidates have expressed dissatisfaction with the complexities associated with multiple online allocations and fluctuating cut-off trends.

The current vacancy list highlights that several prominent institutions still have available spots. For instance, reports indicate 274 vacant seats at Jadavpur University and 172 at Calcutta University. Other institutions, such as the Kalyani Government Engineering College, the Heritage Institute of Technology, and Techno Main Salt Lake, also report remaining vacancies of 125, 380, and 490 seats, respectively.

Official Stance on Future Counselling Rounds

As of the latest update, the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board has not issued an official notification confirming a third phase of decentralised counselling. While the presence of vacant seats has fueled expectations among applicants, the board has yet to formalise any plans for further rounds or a transition to an offline admission process.

Candidates are advised to monitor the official WBJEEB portal regularly for any updates regarding potential additional counselling phases. Until an official announcement is released by the board, the status of these remaining seats remains subject to further administrative decision-making.