Common Entrance Test from 2013 for admission to Central Engineering Institutions

The Central Government decided to scrap the Indian Institutes of Technology-Joint Entrance Examination (IIT-JEE) and the All-India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) and instead conduct Common Entrance Test (CET). Students looking forward to admission in central engineering institutions will have to write a common national examination from 2013.

The government also decided to consider marks obtained by candidates in State Education Board.
In meeting of State Education Ministers, HRD Minister, Kapil Sibal stated that the proposal for a common national examination, with effect from 2013, with weightage to the State Board results, normalised on the basis of percentile formula, was endorsed ‘in principle’ by the States after detailed deliberations.

Common Entrance Test (CET)

The Common Entrance Test (CET) will include admission to 30 National Institutes of Technology, 15 Indian Institute of Technology (IITs), and four Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIIT). However, the decision to join the CET regime has been left on the State Governments and private institutions.

The test is likely to have two parts– main and advanced, to test the General Aptitude and Specific Knowledge in the subject. The final merit list will then be prepared on the basis of 40% marks obtained in the State Board examination results and 60% of marks obtained in Entrance Test marks.

The proposal will now have to be taken to the Central Advisory Board of Education for final endorsement.