Bhubaneswar: In view of severe flood conditions disrupting several regions across Odisha, the State Higher Education Department has extended the deadline for the ongoing Phase-I undergraduate (UG) admission process for the 2026–27 academic session under the Student Academic Management System (SAMS).
The administrative intervention comes after persistent heavy rainfall and river inundations hampered travel and communication networks, preventing numerous students and higher education institutions from completing admission formalities within the sheduled timeframe.
According to the official notification issued by the department, the revised schedule applies to all (+3) Degree institutions operating under SAMS, including State Public Universities, Government, Aided, Unaided, and Law Colleges. Higher education officials emphasised that the relaxation aims to ensure that no deserving candidate is deprived of an admission opportunity due to environmental disruptions beyond their control.
Under the modified timeline for the third and final selection round, which was originally scheduled to run from July 30 to August 1, alloted candidates now have until 5 pm on August 5 to report to their assigned colleges. Participating institutions have been instructed to update student admission records in the e-Space online portal by 9 pm on the same day.
To fill any remaining vacant seats following the third round, the state has also detailed the itinerary for the fourth round, which will serve as a Waiting/Spot Selection Round. The comprehensive list of waitlisted applicants, calculated on the basis of vacancies existing as of August 5, is set to be published simultaneously across HEI e-Space portals and student login dashboards at 12 noon on August 8.
Waitlisted applicants seeking to secure a seat during this spot round are required to report physically to their respective institutions between 11 am on August 10 and 4 pm on August 11 to submit their Common Application Form (CAF) along with necessary verification documents.
Recognising that ongoing waterlogging and road blockades may still hinder travel in rural or inundated districts, the department noted that candidates may send authorised representatives carrying valid identity proof if they are unable to attend in person.
Following the submission window, individual colleges will publish the merit list of eligible waitlisted candidates on their notice boards and websites at 2 pm on August 12.
To ensure prompt notification, institutions will also inform selected applicants via direct phone calls and SMS alerts. Document verification, online fee payment through digital channels like UPI, net banking, NEFT, or bank challans, and final admission confirmation will take place between 10 am on August 13 and 5 pm on August 14.
State officials added that details regarding the Phase-II admission schedule will be released separately at a later date once environmental conditions stabilise across all districts.