Even though the controversy regarding the introduction of NEET hasn’t died down, the government is planning to introduce a single entrance exam meant for admissions into engineering and architecture courses from the year 2018. This would only be meant for admissions at the undergraduate level.
In order to bring this proposal into a reality, the AICTE has already been directed by the HRD Ministry to come out with ‘suitable regulation’ so that it can be implemented beginning from the 2018-19 academic session. Just like the SAT exam in the US, this proposed exam shall take place multiple times each year. With this move, the government is hoping to cut down on the influence that donations have on college admissions throughout the country.
It must be noted here that the IITs won’t be a part of this test and would only take admissions from their indigenous entrance exams as usual. This has been done since the admissions to the IITs are anyway free from any donation influence.
The AICTE has further been directed to make sure that the entire process is standardized so that it is equally competitive for students from different parts of the country. As per the AICTE sources, this proposed test may be conducted is a number of languages.
A senior official from the HRD was quoted as saying, "The admission for IITs will continue as per the present scheme. IITs will conduct the joint entrance examination (advanced). Students who qualify JEE (mains) can appear for the JEE (advanced) examination. Approximately 2,00,000 students qualify to appear for JEE (advanced) examination."
As of now, a number of state wide examinations as conducted in the country for admissions to engineering and architecture colleges throughout the state after class 12th. As many as 5 states have directed their engineering colleges to take admissions using the marks scored by the student in the JEE (mains) examination. Tamil Nadu leads the country when it comes to the number of engineering colleges followed by Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
In an official communication to all the deemed Universities and the state governments, the HRD ministry has asked them "to communicate their constructive suggestions for smooth implementation of the regulation. It may also be useful to request as many institutions as possible to come under a joint seat-allocation system for a more efficient seat allocation process".