Chapter 9: Admission Procedures

Introduction

Admission to professional courses at the first degree and postgraduate degree levels are governed by several factors. First, qualifying in the admission or entrance tests. The second one is the reservation of seats for students belonging to several specified categories of castes. Besides such reservation, there is also a system according to which a specified quota is earmarked for several categories of student, e.g., students sponsored by Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), physically handicapped persons, student excelling in sports. And finally, fulfilling domicile requirements specified by the State Governments for admitting students in institutions located in the respective states. This chapter deals with these issues.

Entrance Tests

There was a time when admission to different courses, particularly in the field of professional education, was based entirely on the marks obtained in the preceding qualifying examinations. With the ever-increasing number of students trying to get admission to professional courses, admission tests were introduced to screen candidates to fill up the limited number of seats. An idea about the big gap between the number of seats and the number of aspirants may be had from the fact that in 1999 for EAMCET, a common entrance test held in Andhra Pradesh, more than one lakh candidates tried their luck for only about twenty thousand seats in the engineering stream.

Initially each university first introduced its own testing system, but now almost all the State Governments have entered the scene to regulate admission, particularly to professional courses at the first degree level. The tests are variously called Combined Admission Test (CATEGORIES), Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), Common Entrance Test (CET), Joint Admission Test (JAT). Tests are conducted either for individual subjects such as business administration, computer applications, bio-technology or for a group of subjects such as engineering, agricultural and veterinary sciences, medicine and dentistry and pharmacy. A negative fallout of the proliferation of entrance tests is the sparing of multi-million rupee “coaching industry”.

Some of the common features of the different types of tests are:

1.  the duration of tests are generally of 2 ½ hours,

2.  test questions are of multiple choice/objective type,

3.  in some tests wrong answers carry negative marks,

4.  allotment of the institution and the branch of study, (e.g., mechanical, electrical, etc.) is made at the time of counselling on the basis of candidates merit position, availability of seats, the choice of subjects and the reservation status, if applicable,

5.  in some tests the candidates are required to make use of Optical Mark Record (OMR) sheet for answering questions,

6.  final selection for management courses is based on candidates merit position and performance in group discussion (GD) and interview and

7.  for architecture course are also required to appear in an Aptitude Test.

Several test agencies have made arrangements to make detailed information about the tests and the test results available on Internet.

The different types of test conducted can be broadly grouped into five categories: 1. tests at All-India level, 2. tests at the State level for admission to first degree level of professional courses conducted by State Government, 3. tests for admission to professional courses at postgraduate level conducted either by State Governments or jointly by several universities in a State, 4. tests for admission to colleges affiliated under them, 5. tests conducted by independent Testing Services.

In addition, many private autonomous management institutions conduct their own tests. A brief description of some of the tests in each in each of these categories follows. It, however, excludes the tests conducted by individual institutions on an all-India basis, such as, Indira Gandhi National Open University (OPENMAT) for admission to management programmes, Armed Forces Medical College (Pune), for admission to MBBS course. Wherever relevant, information about entrance tests has been given in part 2. dealing with specific disciplines. Entrance Tests, in fact, have triggered off a lucrative coaching business.

All India Admission Tests

(i)  Common Admission Test (CAT): The Indian Institutions of Management (IIMs) conduct Common Admission Test (CAT) for postgraduate and Fellow Programmes in Management in six IIMs, at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Indore, Kozhikode (Calicut) and Lucknow. The notification is generally published during July/August and the test is held on 2nd Sunday of December every year. Several other management institutions with the approval of the IIMs, also accept CAT Scores for admission.

(ii)  All India Medical Entrance Examination: The Central Board of School Education (CBSE) conducts an All India Entrance Examination for admission to 15% of the total seats in al medical and dental college under the Central Government, State Governments, Municipality or other local authorities. The States of Andhra Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir have opted out of these tests.

(iii)  All India Entrance Examinations for Admission Postgraduate Courses in Medicine: The All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), New Delhi conducts the examination for admission to 25% of the total seats for various postgraduate courses (MD/MS/PG Diploma/MDS) in all medical and dental colleges in the country run by the Central and State Governments and municipal and other local authorities. Candidates who have obtained MBBS degrees form Andhra Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir are not eligible.

(iv)  IIT-JEE: The joint Entrance Examination (JEE) is conducted by the All India IIT Council for Admission to First Degree Courses in Engineering for the six IITs at Chennai, Kharagpur, Delhi, Guwahati, Mumbai, Kanpur, the Institute of Technology in Banaras Hindu University and the Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad. Admission to T.S. Chanakya (Nautical Science) and Marine Engineering Research Institution (Marine Engineering) are also made on the basis of this test. According to the new rule, instead of one, there are now two tests. The first test, called Screening test is held on the First Sunday of January every year, while the second one, called Main Test, is conducted on the first Sunday of May every year. Only those who qualify in the Screening Test are admitted to the Main Test. There is one objective type question paper in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry for the Screening Test of one-hour duration. For the main examination, there are three papers of two-hour duration each in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.

(v)  Graduate Admission Test in Engineering (GATE): Graduate Admission Test in Engineering (GATE) is an All-India examination conducted by the six Indian Institutes of Technology and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore on behalf of the National Coordination Board – GATE, Department of Secondary and Higher Education (Government of India). The objectives of GATE are: 1. to identify meritorious and motivated students for postgraduate admission with scholarship in engineering and technology and 2. to serve as benchmark for normalisation of the undergraduate engineering education. Examinations are held on the second Sunday every year and the results are declared on March 31. Admissions to all postgraduate programmes with scholarships and assistantships in engineering and technology, architecture, pharmacy at engineering colleges and institutes is open only to those who qualify in GATE. However, the management of the scholarship and assistantship is the function of the admitting institution and GATE Board has no role in the matter. Some colleges and institutes also specify GATE as mandatory qualifications even for admission to postgraduate programmes without scholarships.

(vi)  All India Entrance Examinations for Admission to Undergraduate Programmes in Agricultural and Allied Subjects: The examinations is conducted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for admission to 15% of the seats in State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and the Central Agricultural University, Imphal (Manipur) and all seats in the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal (Haryana). The qualification requirement is a pass in 10 + 2 examinations obtaining not less than 60% (SC/ST 50%) of the total marks.

There is only one paper consisting of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (or Agricultural) for stream A (Agricultural, Horticulture, Fisheries Science, forestry, Home Science and Sericulture) and Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics for Stream B (Agricultural Engineering, Dairy Technology, Food Science and Technology, Agricultural Marketing, Banking and Cooperation). National Talent Scholarships of Rs.800.00 per month are also awarded on the basis of this Entrance Examination provided the candidates opt for universities in any State other than the States of their domicile in undergraduate programmes in agricultural and allied subjects except veterinary sciences.

(vii)  All India Entrance Examinations for Admission for Admission to Veterinary Colleges: The Veterinary Council of India, the regulatory authority for Veterinary education conducts an entrance examination for ad to 15% of the seats in each veterinary college for the BVSc & AH Course. Candidates are selected to fill up “Merit” seats only. The qualification requirement is a pass in 10 + 2 examination obtaining not less than 50%. (SC/ST 40%) of the aggregate marks in English, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

(viii)  Combined Examinations for Admission to Masters Degree Programmes in Agricultural and allied Subjects: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) conducts an all-India test for the award of Junior Research Fellowships and admission to 25% of the seats in Maters Degree programmes (including Veterinary Science and Animal University (CAU), Imphal (Manipur) and all the seats in the four deemed universities, viz., the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE) and National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI).

Students who opt to join universities or institutions other than those from where they have obtained their Bachelor’s Degrees are awarded Junior Research Fellowships. The value of each fellowship is Rs.5,000.00 per month for graduates in veterinary science and Rs.3,600.00 per month for other subjects. In addition, a contingent grant of Rs.6,000.00 per annum is also given. Qualification requirement is a Bachelor degree in the concerned subject obtaining at least 60% marks or an OGPA equivalent to 60% marks (SC/ST 50% marks or OGPA equivalent to 50% marks).

(ix)  Bio-technology Entrance Examinations: It is conducted by Jawaharlal Nehru University for admission to M.Sc. (Bio-technology) and M.Tech. (Bio-technology), M.Sc. (Agricultural Bio-technology), MVSc (Animal Bio-technology) programmes offered by 22 universities. (See Chapter – Life Sciences).

(x)  Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test (Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, A-39 Kailash Colony, New Delhi): The test is conducted for admission to Class VI in Jawahar Novodya Vidyalays (Residential) which offer high quality modern education free of cost to promising children. At present, there are 408 Vidyalayas (one in each district) in 30 States and Union Territories (except West Bengal and Tamil Nadu). The students ultimately appear first in the selection test only for that Vidyalaya which is located in the district from which they are likely to pass the Class V examination.

About 75% of the seats in a district are reserved for children from schools in rural areas. The selection test, which is predominantly non-verbal have three sections each having only objective type questions testing Mental Ability, Arithmetic and language. The medium of language of the test is the medium through which the candidate is studying in Class V.

(xi)  Common Entrance Test for Admission to Military Schools: The test is conducted to admit children within the age group of 10 -12 years to Class VI in five Military Schools located at Chail (Shimla Hills), Ajmer, Dholpur (Rajasthan), Belgaum and Bangalore (Karnataka). The military Schools are boarding Schools which provide Public School education and prepare the students for education up to All India Senior Certificate Examination (10 + 2) and Entrance Test for admission to the National Defence Academy.

(xii)  Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST): JEST is conducted for enrolment in Ph.D. programmes in Physics (including Theoretical and observational astronomy - Astrophysics, Plasma Physics and Technology, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and Space Sciences), Mathematics and Theoretical Computer Science at any of the following specialised institutes: 1. Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore, 2. The Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMS), Chennai, 3. Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar, 4. Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, 5.Inter University Consortium for DAE Facilities (IUC DAEF), Indore Centre, Indore, 6. Mehta Research Institute of Mathematics and Mathematical Physics (MRI), Allahabad, 7. National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA), Pune, 8. Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, 9. Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bangalore. (See also Update for other All India Admission Tests).

Tests by State Governments

Now in almost all States, admission to professional courses at the first degree level such as engineering and technology, medical and dental science, agricultural and veterinary sciences, pharmacy sciences are conducted by the State Governments. In some States, separate establishments have been set up for the purpose, e.g., Controller of Entrance Examinations in Kerala, Common Entrance Test Cell in Karnataka, Professional Examination Board in Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal Board of Examinations.

In some States, the responsibility is assigned to universities, often by rotation, e.g., Engineering, Agricultural and Medical Common Entrance Test (EAMCET) in Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh State Engineering Admission Test (UPSEAT), Combined Pre-Medical Test (CPMT) in Uttar Pradesh. In Maharashtra the Directorate of Technology Education is responsible for conducting tests for admission to engineering and technical courses at different levels whereas the Maharashtra University of Healthy Sciences conducts the Maharashtra Health Sciences Combined Entrance Test (MH-CET).

In Tamil Nadu, the Anna University has been assigned the task of conducting Tamil Nadu Professional Courses Entrance Examinations (TNPCEE) every year for admission to engineering, medicine, agricultural and veterinary and animal sciences courses. Punjab Technical University is responsible for conducting the Common Entrance Test (CET) for admissions to engineering and technology courses as well as for MBA and MCA programmes.

Tests by Admission to Professional PG Courses

The tests falling under this category are conducted primarily for MBA & MCA programmes. The Directorate of Technical Education, Maharashtra Government conducts Common Entrance Test (CET) for postgraduate degree courses in management (MBA and MMS) under its centralised Admission Process (CAP) system. In West Bengal, the West Bengal Board of Examinations is responsible for conducting the MCA admission test.

The Professional Examination Board of Madhya Pradesh conducts MBA/MCA Joint Entrance Test. In many other States, however, one university is identified, often by rotation for this purpose. Some examples are: Uttar Pradesh Management Combined Admission Test (UPMCAT), Rajasthan Management Admission Test (RMAT) and MCACET, LAWCET, MBACET, EdCET, all in Andhra Pradesh. Indira Gandhi National Open University conducts its own entrance test OPENMAT for admission to its MBA degree and other diploma courses.

Tests by Universities for Admission to PG Courses

Most universities conduct Common Entrance Test for Admission to courses offered by their teaching departments and college affiliated to them, e.g., Andhra University Common Entrance Test (AUCET).

Tests by Independent Testing Services

In the area of management, the Centre of Management Services (CMS) of the All India Management Association (AIMA) has introduced the Management Aptitude Test (MAT) for admission to postgraduate degrees and diplomas in management. Some management institutions, mostly autonomous ones, accept the MAT scores for admissions. It has also introduced Undergraduate Aptitude Test (UGAT) for admission to BBA and BCA courses. The tests are held several times a year.

Another organisation, Aptitude Testing Services (ATS) conducts Common MBA Admission Test called G. INDOMAT. ATS does not seem to have uniform policy. Once it introduced two tests called HOMAT and BBAT for admission to hotel management and BBA courses respectively, soon to be abandoned. Now it conducts a common entrance test for admission to BBA, BCA and Hotel a Management courses for some institutions affiliated to the Ch. Charan Singh University (Meerut).

However, these tests are yet to gain wide acceptance. The Association on Indian management Schools (AIMS) which claims to represent 200 management institutions has introduced in 2000 AD yet another management entrance test ATMA (AIMS Test for Management Admission). According to its information bulletin, 55 institutions participated in the second test. But not all of them were recognised by the AICTE.

Standard Tests

While in India there is multiplicity of tests for admission, in the USA, there are a number of standardised tests for different subjects, the scores of which are accepted by universities and colleges for considering admission applications. These tests are designed and conducted by Educational Testing Services (ETS), (P.O. Box No.6103, Princeton, NJ 08541-6103). For the undergraduate level, the tests are Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT I) and SAT II: Subject Tests, the Act Assessment (ACT) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOFEL). All these tests are used to some degree in college admission. They measure aptitudes and achievements and are used in combination with a students secondary school record to help evaluate potential for academic success. Each institution, however, has its own policies and procedures regarding the use of these tests.

AT the graduate level there are four Standardised Tests:

1.  Graduate Record Examination (GRE): General Test and Subjects Tests. General Test is designed to test fundamental verbal, mathematical and logical skills that the average student is expected to assimilate in the course of his or her college education. The subject tests, on the other hand, evaluate knowledge of particular field of study.

2.  Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT): Designed to assess skills relevant to graduate studies in business and management.

3.  The law School Admission Test (LSAT): Required for admission to all law schools that are members of Law Schools Admission Council.

4.  Medical College Admission Test (MCAT): Required for admission to allopathic medical schools admission all accredited osteopathic medical schools

The multiplicity of tests in India poses number problems. Many students try their luck in several tests. They have to spend weeks travelling across the country to sit in a series of tests. More often than not the dates clash. Appearing in a number of tests also costs a fortune. The Ministry of Human Resource Development is now planning to organise a centralised common entrance examination called the National Education System for Testing (NEST) for admission to engineering courses. This will be patterned on GRE of the USA and GATE of India. The test is likely to be conducted by the Educational Consultant of India Ltd. (EdCIL), a public sector company. However, all States may not agree to the proposal. Already, the Government of Karnataka had opposed such a centralised test.

Reservation and Quota Systems

Though the Article.15(1) of the Constitution says that the “State shall not discriminate any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them”, it also provides for compensatory or protective discrimination in favour of certain sections of the disadvantaged people. Article 15(4) of the Constitution stipulates that notwithstanding the provision stated above, the State can make “special provision for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes”.

Scheduled Castes (SC) and Tribes (STREAM) constitute approximately 22.5% of the country’s population. Accordingly, a pro-rata reservation of 22.5% (SC 15% and ST 7.5%) has been made for them in educational institutions which come under the administrative control of the Ministry of Human Resource Development and other Central Ministries. Similar reservations, directly proportional to their population, have also been provided by the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. SC and ST students are also entitled to relaxation in respect of the upper age limit (generally 5 years) as well as concession of lower cut-off qualifying marks (5-10%).

Besides reservation for SC and ST Candidates, seats are also reserved for other categories of the backward community (OBC). In 1978, the Second Backward Classes Commission under the Chairmanship of B.P. Mandal (more well-known as the Mandal Commission) was set up. The Commission, which submitted its report in 1980, recommended the reservation of 27% of the seats in all scientific, technical and professional institutions run by the Central as well as State Governments for other backward communities (OBCs).

It further recommended that those States which have already reserved more than 27% seats for OBC students would remain unaffected by this recommendation. The Government of India implemented the recommendations in 1990 leading to violent protests. The Supreme Court had earlier ruled that the total percentage of reservation should not exceed 50% of the seats. While giving its assent to the Government order for implementation of the recommendations of the Mandal commission report, the Supreme Court not only limited overall reservation to 50%, but also inserted an economic exclusion clause under the name of “creamy layer”. It later reiterated its decision of fixing the upper limit while disallowing the pleas of the Governments of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka from increasing the quota beyond 50%.

However, reservation continues to be a controversial social and political issue and has resulted in many protracted legal disputes and multitude of legal interpretations. In August 1999, the Supreme Court ruled that for admissions at the super-speciality level in medicine and engineering faculties, no special provisions like reservations for SCs, STs and BCs were permissible. Even among the quota for reservations, there are also sub-quotas. For example, in Andhra Pradesh, 15% of the seats in each course of study reserved for Scheduled Castes are in turn allotted, in proportion to their population, to four categories of SCs classified as A, B, C and D. Similarly, 25% of the seats reserved for Backward Classes are allocated to four categories of BCs – labelled as A, B, C and D.

The following table reflects the typical caste-based reservation profile:

SC and SC Converts to Buddhism	13.0%
STs	7.0%
Vimukta Jati	3.0%
Nomadic Tribes (NTI)	2.5%
Nomadic Tribes (NT2)	3.5%
Nomadic Tribes (NT3)	2.0%
OBC	19.0%
Total	50.0%

Besides caste based reservations, there are also varieties of reservation and quota system, for example, Non-resident Indians (5%), Women (30%), Physically handicapped, Migrants from J & K, NCC Quota, Sports Quota, Anglo-Indian Community, Children of Political Sufferers, Children of Defence personnel, Children of Ex servicemen, Government of India Nominees.

Minority Institutions

Article 30(1) of the Indian Constitution provides that “all minorities whether based on religion or language shall have the right to establish and administer educational institution of their choice”. Many such institutions have been established by the minority communities in a number of states. According to a Supreme Court ruling in the case St. Stephen’s College vs University of Delhi (AIR 1992 SC 1630) there have to be two categories for admissions in minority educational institutions viz., Category 1-50% of he seats for candidates belonging to the minority community which has established the institution and Category II-50% of the seats for candidates for “communities other than the minority community” which owns the institution. In all States admissions are regulated through the state-level common entrance tests.

Domicile Requirements

The Central Universities, institutions of national importance and deemed to be universities admit students on an all-India basis. So also do the autonomous institutions offering AICTE approved management courses. On the other hand, in almost all the States, students seeking admission to educational institutions, particularly those offering professional courses, are required to fulfil domicile requirements as specified by the State Governments concerned. However, the specifications vary from State to State.

For purposes of admission, domicile is often defined as the place of permanent residence. In some cases, this is determined by the specified period of continuous stay in the State concerned. Often, the place of birth is the determining factor. In some States, passing the qualifying examinations from institutions located in the State is enough to earn the domicile status.

The number of years a candidate must study in the State is often specified as the necessary requirement. But exceptions are made in respect of candidates if their parents are permanent residents of the State. However, all the States admit the children of employees of Central Government and Central public sector undertakings and the United Nations posted in States. The information bulletins for the common entrance tests contain detailed information about domicile requirements. The Annexure gives a sample of specifications taken from several information bulletins.

There was a time when the private professional institutions, mostly in Karnataka and Maharashtra, used to admit students from other States against payment of what came to be known as “capitation fee”. With the introduction of common entrance tests by the State Governments for regulating admission procedures, the domicile rule was extended to such private institutions also. Some States permitted admission of students from outside the state but were charged higher rate of tuition fees.

For example, the Karnataka Government specified that Karnataka students admitted to government seats to be charged Rs.2,000 per annum and those admitted to non-government seats should pay Rs.25,000 per annum. Non-Karnataka students, on the other hand, were required to pay a tuition fee not exceeding Rs.60,000 per annum. The Division Bench of the Supreme Court quashed the Karnataka Government order on the ground that the amount specified for non-Karnataka students was not tuition fee but “capitation fee”.

The decision of the Division bench, in turn, was quashed by the Constitution bench of the Supreme Court in the case Unnikrishnan JP and others vs State of Andhra Pradesh and others ((1933) 1, Sec 645). The Supreme Court directed the creation of two categories of seats in professional institutions – “free seats” (also called “merit seats”) and “Payment seats”. Generally, all seats in university institutions and government institutions and 50% of the seats in private institutions are “free seats”. The remaining 50% of the seats in private institutions are “payment seats”. In some States (e.g., Maharashtra) even 50% of he seats in university institutions and government institutions are also treated as “payment seats”.

Almost all the states admit students from outside of it only to the “payment seats”. Generally, the candidates from the States, get the first preference in payment seats. Often the upper limit of seats open to outsiders is also specified. For example, Karnataka Government specifies that “Forty five% of Engineering seats falling under the payment category and available in Private Unaided Institutions, other than minority institutions, shall be allocated to Karnataka quota, Seats remaining unfilled after admissions to Karnataka quota shall be allocated to non-Karnataka quota subject to the maximum of Fifteen% of the payment seats”. Children of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) are eligible only for “payment seats”.

In some states students from other states are admitted in accordance with the “reciprocal quota” basis. Such candidates are sponsored by the State Governments concerned. Some states admit students to certain professional courses on an all-India basis. For example, Madhya Pradesh Government has allocated 50% of the seats in MBA and MCA courses in university institutions for students belonging to other States.

As has been stated earlier in this Chapter, in medical, agricultural and veterinary science courses, entrance tests are conducted on an all-India bases to fill Uttar Pradesh specified percentage of seats in colleges in all the states. (See serial numbers (ii), (iii), (vi), (vii) and (viii) under All-India Admission Tests.

Update

All India Admission Tests

Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST): Four more institutions are now participating in JEST for selecting candidates for enrolment in PhD Programmes in Physics, Mathematics and Theoretical Computer Science: (i) Institute of Physics (Bhubaneswar), (ii) Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (Bangalore),(iii) National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (Bangalore), and (iv) S N Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences.

Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for Hotel Management: The National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology (INCHNCT) Conducts Technology and Applied Nutrition (IHMCTANs). Information about the JEE has been given in Chapter 34 (Hotel, Tourism and Travel Management).

National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)-NIFT conducts a common entrance examination for admission to its regular courses (Six groups) (See Annexure 2 of Chapter 20)- Arts and Design.

National Institute of Design (NID)-NID conducts two admission test for admission to Graduate Diploma Programme in Design (GDPD) and Postgraduate Programme in Design (PGDPT), (See Chapter 20 - Art and Design).