LUCKNOW, April 22 -- Several aided colleges affiliated with Lucknow University, once known for high cut-offs and intense competition, are now struggling to fill seats, with many institutions reporting 20 to 30% vacancies in undergraduate courses over the past few academic sessions. Data from recent academic sessions indicates that despite large sanctioned intakes, enrolments have dropped sharply, pointing to a steady decline driven by weak academic delivery, rising competition, and logistical constraints.

In the 2024-25 academic session, at Vidyant Hindu PG College, only about 241 of 670 BA seats were filled, while B.Com admissions stood at around 220 against 320 seats. Shashi Bhushan Balika Vidyalaya Degree College reported just 41 admi...