AICTE restores cut-off for engineering courses

Minimum marks in II PU fixed at 45 per cent

The regulator had ruled that candidates should secure at least 50 per cent marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics to be eligible for admission to engineering courses. The move came in for criticism particularly in the context of engineering seats lying vacant across the country. Around 8,000 seats were unfilled in Karnataka last year while it was 22,000 seats in Maharashtra.

Following the new directive, the number of eligible students in the State had gone down to 60,543 against 71,639 last year. The restoration of the earlier norm would benefit 12,000 students, according to officials from the Karnataka Examination Authority. The increase in eligibility criterion for the SC/ST students from 40 pc to 45 pc is also expected to be reversed.

The AICTE resorted to upward revision following complaints over the poor quality of students emerging from engineering colleges. Several studies by industry bodies such as NASSCOM had raised doubts on the employability of fresh graduates. AICTE Chairman S S Manthan said the cut-off marks was restored following representation from all the states.

Part-time courses

The AICTE has also released new regulations for part-time courses in management and engineering for working professionals. Colleges which offer both part-time and full time courses cannot conduct evening classes for students enrolled for full time courses. Intake to a part time course cannot exceed half the intake to a full time course.

Rs 2.5 lakh ceiling for poor quota

The Karnataka Examination Authority has released guidelines for the supernumerary quota for engineering seats mandated by the All India Council for Technical Education.

Under the guidelines, all candidates whose parental annual income is less than Rs 2.5 lakh will be eligible for supernumerary seats.  The number of seats in the supernumerary quota will be five per cent of the sanctioned intake to each course in all engineering courses. 

The selected candidates will be exempted from paying tuition fee for all the semesters of the entire course. They will have to pay only the university registration fee and other charges.

The SC and ST candidates need not pay the university registration fee. For availing of seats under the quota, candidates will have to produce income certificate from the tahsildar at the time of seat selection.

These seats will be made available in the order of merit. The unfilled seats under the quota, if any, will not be reverted to private colleges. For more details visit http://kea.kar.nic.in