Members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) staged a vigorous protest against the GCAS system, highlighting several anomalies and demanding immediate reforms.

Ahmedabad: Admission to government and select private universities across Gujarat through the Gujarat Common Admission System (GCAS) portal has created widespread dissatisfaction among students due to persistent technical and procedural glitches.On Wednesday, members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) staged a vigorous protest against the GCAS system, highlighting several anomalies and demanding immediate reforms. Despite protests from students and parents since its launch two years ago, the government has been insisting on using a centralized centralized portal for admissions.Students have reported that many integrated courses are not appearing as options during the registration process due to pending approvals, limiting their options. Additionally, technical glitches such as the absence of an edit option while choosing between regular and distance learning courses have prevented students from completing their applications. The delay in receiving OTP on mobile phones has further increased the frustration.Concerns have also been raised about students appearing for supplementary examinations, as there is no clarity on how those passing later will be accommodated in the admission process. Similarly, there remains ambiguity regarding the quota for CBSE board students, creating uncertainty about their chances of securing admission.ABVP workers visited the GCAS office at Knowledge Consortium of Gujarat (KCG) and demanded immediate resolution of these issues. He warned that continued negligence could have a serious impact on the academic future of students.Another point of criticism is the registration fee structure. Students will have to pay Rs 300 (general category) or Rs 150 (reserved category), irrespective of whether they have secured admission. With millions of applicants expected, this could generate substantial revenue. Critics argue that the complex process may indirectly push students toward private universities, raising concerns about privatization in higher education.