West Bengal High Court Pauses OBC Sub-Categorization in Undergraduate Admissions – Important Information and FAQs

The West Bengal High Court has halted the sub-categorization of OBC (Other Backward Classes) into OBC-A and OBC-B categories in the ongoing undergraduate (UG) admissions process until legal issues around the classification are resolved. This pause means that although students can still submit applications via the online portal, the system will neither record nor process any OBC sub-category data, effectively suspending category-based merit lists for now.

Key Implications for Students:

Over 71,000 applications were logged with OBC sub-category details before the court intervened, but these will not be processed until further notice.
The court mandated the admission portal to display a clear notice that only pre-2010 OBC categories are currently valid for the admissions process.
Applicants who submitted data under the new sub-categories will have to re-enter their OBC details once the legal issues are cleared.
The High Court's order follows a prior stay issued on June 17, 2025, which suspended West Bengal's new OBC list of 140 subgroups and the increased reservation quota.
This suspension has created uncertainty for nearly 4,83,000 students who await admission to government colleges through the Centralized Admission Portal (CAP).

Background:

The West Bengal government had introduced a new OBC classification system in 2025, which added many new subgroups and raised reservation percentages.
This was challenged in court for violating earlier orders and for allegedly using religion as a sole criterion for OBC status.
The Calcutta High Court had in May 2024 nullified all OBC certificates issued since 2010.
Legal controversies have led the state's education officials to consider the possibility of removing the OBC category altogether from UG admissions.

Current Status and Next Steps:

The court's stay on the sub-categorization will remain in effect until at least the next scheduled hearing on July 31, 2025.
Admissions via the centralized portal remain on hold pending legal clearance, while private and autonomous colleges outside this system have begun their admission processes independently.
Students and parents are advised to keep track of official updates and be prepared to modify their application details once the court gives the green light.

In summary, the West Bengal High Court's intervention has temporarily frozen the OBC sub-categorization in UG admissions, impacting thousands of applicants and delaying the admission process until legal clarity is obtained. Students should closely follow official announcements to stay informed of further developments.