If you are planning to pursue higher education in India, you might have heard of the term category ranking. Category ranking is a system that determines the admission of candidates to various courses and colleges based on their performance in a national-level entrance exam and their belonging to a specific category. In this blog post, we will explain what category ranking is, how it works, and why it is important for college admission.

What is Category Ranking?

Category ranking is the rank obtained by candidates in their specific categories such as general, OBC, ST, SC, or physically handicapped. Category ranking is different from the All-India Rank (AIR), which is the rank obtained on all India basis by an individual at any national level examination on the basis of criteria set by the body conducting the examination. Category ranking is used to allocate seats to candidates belonging to the reserved categories as per the government norms and policies.

How Does Category Ranking Work?

Category ranking works by applying a certain percentage of reservation for each category in the total number of seats available for admission. For example, if there are 100 seats for a course, 15% of them will be reserved for SC candidates, 7.5% for ST candidates, 27% for OBC candidates, and 5% for physically handicapped candidates, 10% for EWS candidates. The remaining 40.5% of seats will be open for all candidates irrespective of their category.

Category	Percentage of Reservation
SC	15%
ST	7.5%
OBC	27%
EWS	10%
General	0%

To determine the category ranking, candidates have to appear for a national-level entrance exam such as NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) for admission to medical courses or JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) for admission to engineering courses. The exam conducting authority will release the result of the exam along with the AIR and category rank of each candidate. Candidates can check their ranks by entering their roll number and date of birth on the official website of the exam.

Based on the ranks obtained by the candidates, a merit list will be prepared for each category. The merit list will indicate the order of preference of candidates for admission to various colleges and courses. Candidates can participate in the counselling process conducted by the respective authorities and choose their preferred college and course as per their rank and availability of seats.

Why is Category Ranking Important?

Category ranking is important because it ensures that candidates belonging to the reserved categories get a fair chance to pursue higher education in India. Category ranking also helps in maintaining social justice and equality among different sections of society. Category ranking also enables candidates to get admission to reputed colleges and courses that might otherwise be difficult to get into with a low AIR.

Category ranking is also beneficial for candidates who have scored less than the expected marks in the entrance exam. There are chances that they might get admission to a good college or course based on their category rank. For example, if a candidate has scored an AIR of 1 lakh but belongs to the SC category, he or she might get admission to a top medical college based on his or her category rank.

Conclusion

In conclusion, category ranking is a system that determines the admission of candidates to various courses and colleges based on their performance in a national-level entrance exam and their belonging to a specific category. It helps in ensuring fair and equal opportunities for higher education in India for all sections of society. It also helps in achieving academic excellence and social justice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between category rank and All India Rank (AIR)?

Category rank is the rank in your specific category (e.g., general, OBC, ST, SC, etc.). AIR is the overall rank among all candidates. Category rank is used for seat allocation to reserve categories. AIR is used for merit determination.

Q: What are the benefits of category ranking for reserved categories?

Category ranking provides a fair and equal opportunity for candidates belonging to the reserved categories to pursue higher education in India. It also helps in achieving social justice and equality among different sections of society.

Q: What are the disadvantages of category ranking for general candidates?

Category ranking may reduce the chances of admission for general candidates who have scored high marks in the entrance exam. It may also create a sense of discrimination or resentment among some general candidates who feel that they are being denied their merit.

Q: How can I verify my category certificate during the counselling process?

You have to produce your original category certificate along with a self-attested copy during the counselling process. The certificate should be issued by a competent authority and should be valid as per the norms and guidelines of the exam conducting authority. If you fail to produce your category certificate or if your certificate is found to be invalid or forged, your candidature will be cancelled, and legal action will be taken against you.

Q: How can I know which colleges and courses accept category rank for admission?

You can visit [Collegedunia] to search for colleges and courses based on your category rank, entrance exam, location, fees, and other preferences.

We hope this blog post has helped you understand what category ranking is and how it works. If you have any queries or suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!

Category Ranking in College Admission: What, How, and Why