Chatbot to make debut on central UG admission portal this year
Times of India | 15 May 2025
12 Kolkata: A chatbot will be introduced in the centralised UG admission portalthis year to help applicants to undergraduate courses navigate through the process. The state higher education department has hinted at the launch of the AI-driven tool to help applicants after many had claimed last year that they faced difficulties juggling multiple colleges and different subject combinations.The chatbot is awaiting clearance from the department.Around 460 UG colleges across the state are under this centralized portal, which is yet to be opened for the application process. The higher education department is now contacting participating colleges for admission preparations. Asutosh College principal Manas Kabi said, "We have shared all the information and documents that department asked for. Now we are waiting for a notice to start the admission process." Institutes with minority status, like St Xavier's College, Shri Shikshayatan and Scottish Church College, which are not part of the centralized portal, have already opened their admission portals.According to an official, the chatbot—a web interface designed to enable textual or spoken conversations—will guide candidates and answer their queries on a real-time basis. Last time, the portal had a head called, FAQ or ‘frequently asked questions', to help students clear their doubts. This time, the chatbot will step in, clearing applicants' doubts at that very moment. A higher education department official said, "The was the portal was designed last year, it did not require major changes. But some modifications will be made to make it more convenient and user-friendly. The main objective is to guide students so that they will not make any mistake while filling up online forms." An official pointed out that multiple mistakes were detected in the forms, many errors were found in basic information, and several students failed to choose the right combinations, as a result of which they had to wait for the next phase of admission to opt for the subjects and institutes of their choice. This, despite the introduction of two animated characters—Ananya and Priya—aimed at helping students submit error-free applications. "We want to make it even easier for the students. They can clear their doubts with the chatbot and won't need others' help to fill their forms," the education official added.