The Maharashtra state government has announced plans to extend the Centralised Admission Process (CAP) for Class 11, also known as the first year of junior college (FYJC), across the entire state. Previously, this system was limited to five urban regions: Amravati, Nagpur, Nashik, Pune-Pimpri Chinchwad, and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).  

Under the revised system, junior college admissions will follow a structured process, with four standardised rounds. Only after these rounds are completed will remaining vacancies be made available for open admission, which will be determined strictly on merit. The divisional deputy director of education will be responsible for issuing the necessary directives to junior colleges and higher secondary schools to ensure compliance with this process.  

The CAP system was originally introduced in MMR during the 2009–10 academic year to streamline the admissions procedure through a centralised online counselling method. Its implementation was subsequently extended to Pune-Pimpri Chinchwad in 2014–15. The state government now seeks to expand its reach further, with the intention of simplifying admissions and making the process more transparent.  

However, the decision has sparked criticism from education activists, who argue that allowing individual colleges to manage open admissions independently could create opportunities for malpractice. Mahendra Ganpule, president of the Maharashtra Headmasters Association, remarked, "There are already many reports of malpractices during admissions in junior colleges. An online procedure which negates the compulsion of physical visits will increase the probability of these malpractices."  

Concerns have also been raised regarding the proposed timeline, as junior college sessions are expected to commence only after the completion of the standard four admission rounds. The president of the Junior Colleges Teachers Association, Mukund Andhalkar, has expressed strong reservations about this approach, arguing that an entirely online admission system across the state is unnecessary. He warned that delaying the commencement of academic sessions until September each year could lead to considerable academic losses for students.  

Despite such concerns, an official from the Directorate of Education has defended the decision, asserting that the transition to a fully online system will be particularly advantageous for students residing in remote areas, as it eliminates the need for physical visits to multiple colleges. The official further maintained that the digitalisation of the process is aimed at reducing delays and ensuring fairness in admissions.  

Andhalkar dismissed these claims, alleging that the Class 11 online admissions system has been ineffective since its launch. "The government permits colleges to fill open seats on their own by the end of the admission cycle; merely requiring them to report these admissions in the online system," he stated. Many parents who want to apply for online admission thus wait until the last minute to secure admission in their preferred colleges. “ This defeats the purpose of making the centralised online admission system universal across state,” he added.