Reshmi AR

Hyderabad: In its 35 year history, EAMCET, the entrance test for medical, engineering, dentistry and pharmacy streams, among others, has had a fair share of controversies. It is not new to charges of impropriety. In the past, there have been allegations suggesting that all is not well with EAMCET.

It is now being speculated that curtains may soon come down on EAMCET. As is widely known, NEET, brought in on a countrywide basis by the Centre, has already taken the wind out of EAMCET sails. It is learnt that admissions to engineering may soon come under the purview of joint entrance examination. It is also being said that the National Testing Agency (NTA) would conduct NEET and JEE twice a year. With this development, EAMCET would automatically become redundant.

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The Centre has already lent its consent to the AICTE's proposal to regulate admissions to engineering courses through a single, nationwide test. This is likely to come into effect the next academic year, 2019-20. It is pertinent to point out here that in many states including, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Nagaland, Odisha and Uttarakhand, JEE (Main), constitutes the basis on which admissions are conducted.

The Centre had in 2016, already scrapped the 40% weightage given to Intermediate marks in JEE Main, citing the example of NIT and IIIT, which take only merit into account. Similarly, in JEE Advanced, the basis for addmissions to IIT, is merit alone. In EAMCET, however, 25% weightage is accorded to Intermediate marks. In 2007-08, the government had set up a committee headed by Prof. Neerada Reddy, with a view to streamline EAMCET since it was seen that students focussed more on securing a good rank in the entrance test. Among the recommendations of the committee were, giving 25% weightage to Intermediate marks. The idea was to ensure that admissions to professional courses, were not predicated on EAMCET alone. Based on the recommendations of this committee, the government decided to accord 25% weightage to Intermediate marks.

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One thing is clear. If the Centre's proposals come into effect, the monopoly enjoyed by the corporate colleges, may soon end. Allegations of manipulation, leakage and other malpractices may also die down.