India, June 1 -- In a significant relief for students, parents and college administrators, the state school education department has rolled back a controversial rule regarding First Year Junior College (FYJC) admissions under the in-house quota.

The rule, introduced as part of a centralised online admission process set to begin in the academic year 2025-26, required schools and junior colleges under the same management to be located within the same premises in order to be eligible for in-house quota benefits. Under this quota, 10 percent of seats in private management junior colleges are reserved for students coming from schools run by the same management.

The rule sparked strong opposition from school managements, teachers associations...