AICTE Clears Single Entrance Test For Engineering From 2018

From 2018, admission to engineering colleges around the country will be conducted through a single entrance test, with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) on Tuesday approving a comprehensive package.

According to a report by the Hindustan Times, a total of Rs 250 crore would be spent to implement the package.  The AICTE, which is the statutory body and a national-level council for technical education, also directed institutes to go for induction courses, yearly revision of curriculum and teacher training through SWAYAM platform, added the report citing sources. 

The report quoted a source as saying “The AICTE has come up with the regulation following a directive by HRD minister Prakash Javadekar. It will now be sent to the ministry for an approval. After that a gazette notification will be issued,” 

Once implemented, appearing students would not have to sit for multiple entrance tests conducted by central agencies, state government and private institutions. 

However,  students seeking admission to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) will have to clear the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE)-Advanced after taking the engineering entrance exam, said the report.

The regulation was welcomed by all states barring the representatives of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu government, said a report by the Indian Express. 

What is to be noted, however, is that regulations have been issued under the AICTE Act making it mandatory for every state to follow it. Sources said in case a state refuses to adhere to it, it will lose AICTE approval, states the HT report. 

The single entrance test, if implemented will be along the lines of the  National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), a single all-India entrance test held for medical admissions. It was launched in 2016 for entry to medical and dental colleges.