Centre pitches common exam for govt technical colleges, IITs object

An April IIT Council meeting saw the Union government suggesting that one way to lessen the pressure on students and lessen the hold of test-prep institutes over admission to the premier engineering institutions was to perhaps have one common entrance exam for all centrally funded technical institutions (CFTIs) -- an idea that was promptly shot down by the IITs.

- Fareeha Iftikhar

The government’s plan would entail scrapping the JEE (Advanced). The minutes of the April 18 meeting were released on Thursday.

According to the minutes, an item titled “need for common admission test for all CFTIs” was introduced during the meeting by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) chairperson Anil D Sahasrabudhe.

“A detailed discussion was followed in the matter among chairmen of IITs and other members of the council. It was decided to have brainstorming sessions in the next three to four months to examine the various facets of the issue in light of the assertions of the NEP (National Education Policy) 2020, and the overall well-being of students across the country,” the minutes said.

The minutes emphasized that the reduction in the number of entrance tests would not only reduce the burden on students but also “reduce the coaching needs”.