The system already on anvil for medical entrance from this year will be implemented for all engineering colleges. But the decision evoked immediate opposition from all IIT students.

A new format of common entrance test for all engineering colleges in the country including the AIEEE and the IIT’s could mean good to the children. No need to spend heavily on entrance fees. No hassles of dates or running from pillar to post in search of examination centers. And last but not the least even new engineering colleges can get a good chunk of admissions.

The Union Ministry has submitted a report end of January 2012 on the proposal to hold common entrance test to the Central Advisory Board of Education, awaiting approval.  Union Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal said that the test scores would have 60 per cent weight with the school board marks accounting for the rest in deciding the admission list.

The government plans to scrap all engineering entrance exams from 2013-14. Currently, various state boards and institutions, including the IITs, conduct at least 150 entrance exams every year. The government decided to dump all such exams, including the IIT-JEE and the AIEEE, at a meeting of IIT Council (IIT directors) and officials from the ministry of human resource development (HRD). The test could even be held online from 2014. But some groups opposed this and felt that this step would erode the quality of admissions in IITs.

Earlier in September, Mr. Sibal said, “There will be one merit list. Institutes, including the IITs, will have to pick up students from this list. The list will be based on Std 12 marks and the entrance test results. Also, students will be counseled before they choose a course.” The exam will be taken on the similar pattern of the common entrance exam for medical course which will begin from next year.     (With inputs from Internet-AarKay)