State government plans replacing CMAT with PGCET

Hardly a year after the Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) conducted by All India Council for Technical Education was introduced as the only gateway for admissions to MBA and MCA courses in State, the government is now on its way to replace it with the PGCET (Post Graduate Common Admission Test).

The PGCET will most likely be introduced from 2014-15 and the government has constituted a committee to oversee the transition. The panel comprises Prof H Maheshappa, Vice-Chancellor, Visvesvaraya Technological University (chairperson), Ramegowda and KEA Executive Director (member secretary). The other members include M K Sridhar, Professor, Canara Bank School of Management Studies, Bangalore University and M Prakash, Secretary, Karnataka Private Post Graduate Colleges’ Association (KPPGCA).

Prof Maheshappa told Deccan Herald that although he had been informed of his role in the committee, he was yet to receive an official communication on his appointment. He disclosed that registrars of Karnatak University, Bangalore University and University of Mysore were also part of the committee. The dates for PGCET exam for 2014-15 are yet to be decided, while the CMAT scores were announced on Friday.

According to members of the committee, aspirants for MBA in Karnataka will have to appear for PGCET this time. A proposal has also been made to conduct a single entrance test for both management and government seats.

“A clearer picture would emerge by next week after the first meeting of the committee. The aim is to finish admissions by the end of June and start classes much earlier. Last year, the admissions went on till September,” Maheshappa added.
The PGCET will also apply for admissions to first year MCA courses. The issue of lateral entry into second year MCA course will be decided separately, said Prakash.     
Students who wished to pursue MBA and MCA courses in the State last year had a harrowing experience. A great deal of confusion ensued with the State government making the CMAT, the only entry point to the courses in the middle of the year without much publicity and prior information.

The registration for CMAT was extremely low leaving thousands of MBA and MCA seats vacant. “CMAT was not very popular with the students and, colleges had to suffer great losses as a result of the test,” said Prakash.