IIT-Delhi too decides to hold own entrance test

The senate of the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi on Thursday unanimously resolved to hold a separate entrance examination for admission to the institute’s undergraduate engineering programmes from 2013, rejecting the government’s “one nation, one examination” proposal.

It was decided that an entrance test on the lines of JEE 2012, along with other willing IITs “to the extent possible.” The senate invited other IITs to join them in conducting the test.

The 200-member senate also resolved to set up a committee to review and propose changes in the current entrance examination, to be implemented from 2014 and beyond.

Rejecting the IIT council’s decision to hold a joint entrance test for admissions to all centrally-funded institutions from 2013, the senate observed that it will impinge on the IITs’ autonomy. Besides, the council’s decision was not academically sound, it said.

The Institutes of Technology Act, 1961, says the senate’s resolution will be effected only after approval from the board of governors (BoG) of the respective IIT. The 10-member BoG has only two representatives from the respective institute’s senate.

“It is historic, though, unfortunate that, pushed to the edge by (Kapil) Sibal's autocratic and manipulative attitude, IIT Delhi Senate had no choice but to decide to do an IIT Kanpur in Thursday’s jam packed senate meeting,” president of IIT Delhi Alumni Association Somnath Bharti said.

After HRD Minister Kapil Sibal’s interview to a news channel on Wednesday, the members had “sensed” that the government was in no mood to respect the autonomy of the institution despite assurances by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he said.

“The PM was of the view that there should be no hurry in making changes to the entrance procedure which could damage the IIT brand which is known worldwide,” Bharti added, referring to the recent meeting of the All India IIT faculty federation with Singh.