WBJEE, WBCAP, WBDAP UG Admissions Rise in 2026! Higher Edu Minister Shares Key Figures, Growth Rate

West Bengal Higher Education Minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay has shared data highlighting a substantial increase in undergraduate admissions across the state’s engineering, pharmacy and general degree programmes in 2026. According to the figures posted by the minister on X (formerly Twitter), admissions conducted through the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board (WBJEEB) counselling process registered a year-on-year growth of 75.4% compared with 2025. Meanwhile, undergraduate admissions facilitated through the West Bengal Centralised Admission Portal (WBCAP) and the West Bengal Decentralised Admission Portal (WBDAP) recorded a combined increase of 49.9%.

The data shared by the minister shows that the total number of admissions through WBJEEB counselling reached 27,599 in 2026, compared with 15,729 in 2025. This represents an increase of 11,870 admissions over the previous year. Of the total admissions this year, 16,409 candidates secured seats through the centralised counselling process, while 11,190 admissions were recorded through decentralised counselling. The data also clarifies that the decentralised counselling figure includes 2,156 students who had already obtained seats through centralised WBJEE counselling but subsequently received upgraded seats during the decentralised round. These candidates have been included in the overall count of 11,190 decentralised admissions.

The West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board conducts the WBJEE, a state-level entrance examination for admission to undergraduate engineering, technology and pharmacy programmes. The examination serves as an entry route to courses such as Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.), Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) and Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm). The counselling process enables eligible candidates to secure seats in participating institutions based on the applicable admission procedures.

WBCAP and WBDAP UG admissions

Admissions through the two undergraduate degree admission platforms, WBCAP and WBDAP, also witnessed significant growth, rising from 2,61,692 in 2025 to 3,92,227 in 2026. The increase amounts to 1,30,535 admissions, translating into a year-on-year rise of 49.9%. The figures cover admissions to undergraduate engineering and pharmacy courses through WBJEEB counselling, as well as undergraduate degree courses through the state’s centralised and decentralised admission mechanisms.

Of the total admissions recorded in 2026, 3,78,931 were completed through WBCAP’s centralised admission process, while the remaining 13,296 admissions took place through WBDAP’s decentralised counselling system.

WBCAP functions as West Bengal’s centralised online admission platform for undergraduate degree courses offered by government and government-aided colleges across the state. It provides a common online system through which eligible applicants can seek admission to participating institutions. WBDAP, on the other hand, facilitates decentralised counselling for additional seats, wherever applicable, at participating government and government-aided colleges.