Q: I am a final-year engineering diploma student and would like to pursue B.Tech. through the lateral entry scheme. Kindly give us the details about the admission procedure and the institutes that offer the study facilities.
ANOOP, ERNAKULAM
The lateral entry scheme was introduced with a view to provide an opportunity for meritorious diploma holders to pursue a degree course in engineering. Those students who secure 60 per cent marks in the three-year engineering diploma examination and clear the entrance test are eligible for admission to the second-year of the B.Tech. course under the lateral entry scheme.
The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has made it clear that the three-year engineering diploma course is equivalent to the first year of B.Tech./B.E. degree course in the subject concerned.
To maintain uniformity among the various schemes of lateral entry, AICTE has put in place a State-level entrance examination for the selection. One of the major advantages of the entrance test is that diploma holders can easily obtain admission to merit seats. There are several higher education institutions that provide lateral entry to B.Tech. courses. The Government of Kerala provides 10 per cent additional seats annually for the lateral entry B.Tech. course in various engineering colleges in the State. The government has also authorised the LBS Centre for Science and Technology to conduct an entrance test for admission to the lateral entry engineering courses.
Students who have passed the diploma in engineering with minimum 60 per cent marks in the relevant branch are eligible to apply. For students belonging to socially and economically backward castes, whose family income does not exceed Rs.4.5 lakh, 5 per cent mark relaxation will be given.
For candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe communities, a pass in the qualifying exam is sufficient. Those who are appearing for the final-year diploma examination are also eligible to apply. The maximum age limit is 28 years. Non-Keralites are also considered for admission to private self-financing institutions and non-government seats in the government controlled self-financing institutions.
Equivalency of branches
Candidates will be admitted only to the branch of engineering as per the equivalency as given below:
Diploma holders in applied electronics will be eligible for B.Tech. course in electronics/communication/applied electronics and instrumentation engineering.
Diploma holders in architecture, civil and quantity survey and construction management will be considered for B.Tech. in civil engineering.
Diploma holders in computer application and business management, computer engineering, computer hardware maintenance will be considered eligible for B.Tech. in computer science and engineering.
Diploma holders in electrical engineering will be considered eligible for B.Tech. in electrical and electronic engineering.
Diploma holders in electronics and instrumentation will be considered eligible for B.Tech. in electronics and communication/electronics and instrumentation engineering.
Diploma holders in electronics, electronics and aviation, electronics and communication, electronics production technology, medical electronics, medical instrumentation, telecommunication technology will be considered eligible for admission to B.Tech. in electronics and communication engineering.
Diploma holders in automobile engineering will be considered eligible for admission to B.Tech. in mechanical engineering/automobile engineering.
Diploma holders in tool and die, wood and paper technology, plastic moulding technology, mechanical engineering will be considered eligible for admission to B.Tech. in mechanical engineering /industrial engineering /production engineering / mechanical (production).
Diploma holders in instrument technology will be considered for admission to B.Tech. in instrumentation and control engineering/ applied electronics and instrumentation engineering, and electronics and instrumentation engineering.
Diploma holders in any branch will be considered for admission to B.Tech. in information technology.
Diploma in biomedical engineering will be considered for admission to B.Tech. in biomedical engineering.
Diploma in chemical engineering will be considered for admission to B.Tech. in chemical engineering.
Diploma in information technology will be considered for admission to B.Tech. in IT.
Diploma in polymer technology will be considered for admission to B.Tech. in polymer technology.
Diploma in printing technology will be considered for admission to B.Tech. in printing technology.
The LBS Centre for Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, will conduct a State-level lateral entrance test every year at Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode centres.
The entrance test will have questions from subjects that are part of the first year B.Tech. course, and English language. The examination is objective type with 120 questions to be attempted in two hours.
For English, out of the 10 marks, 5 marks will be for questions based on a given passage and the remaining will be for basic grammar and general English of Plus Two standard. The rank list will be prepared by the LBS Centre. Those who secure a minimum of 20 per cent marks in the entrance test are included in the lateral entrance rank list. The allotment of seats will be made by the Director of Technical Education in accordance with the rank position. More details can be obtained from the websites www.lbskerala.com ; www.lbscentre.org .
At CUSAT
The Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Kochi, also provides lateral entry to third semester of B.Tech. programmes in civil, computer science and engineering, electrical and electronics, electronics and communication, information technology, instrumentation, mechanical, polymer science and engineering, safety and fire engineering courses conducted by Cochin University College of Engineering, Kuttanad and by the School of Engineering, Thrikkakara.
CUSAT will conduct separate lateral entry admission test at Kochi. Candidate will be admitted only to the branches of engineering as per equivalency as given below:
Diploma in computer science and engineering/ electrical and electronics engineering/ electronics engineering/computer technology/ electronics and production technology / computer engineering / medical engineering / computer hardware maintenance / telecommunication technology / applied electronics are eligible for admission to B.Tech. in computer science and engineering or information technology.
Diploma holders in electrical engineering, electrical and electronics engineering; applied electronics and production technology / computer hardware maintenance / instrumentation / telecommunication technology are eligible for admission to B.Tech. in electrical and electronics / electronics and communication engineering / instrumentation technology.
Diploma holders in mechanical, production engineering, plastics and mould technology, automobile engineering, tool and dye-making are eligible for admission to B.Tech. in mechanical engineering.
Diploma holders in polymer technology or chemical engineering are eligible for admission to B.Tech. in polymer science and engineering.
Diploma holders in mechanical, civil and chemical engineering are eligible for admission to B.Tech. in safety and fire engineering.
Diploma holders in civil engineering /architecture will be considered eligible for admission to B.Tech. in civil engineering.
Those who have obtained a three-year engineering diploma with a minimum of 60 per cent marks and are below 25 years of age are eligible to apply for lateral entry. The notification in this regard can be expected in February. Website: www.cusat.nic.in.
In Tamil Nadu
The Directorate of Technical Education in Tamil Nadu provides lateral entry to B.Tech. courses for meritorious engineering diploma holders and B.Sc. degree holders in government, aided and self-financing engineering colleges and constituent colleges of Anna University, Chennai and Tiruchi.
Alagappa Chettiar College of Engineering and Technology, Karaikudi, takes care of the admission procedures related to lateral entry scheme. Admission notification can be expected in May or June every year.
Periyar Maniammai University, Vallam, Thanjavur ( www.pmu.edu ), also provides lateral admission to B.E. / B.Tech. courses in civil, computer science and engineering, electronics and communication, electrical and electronics, mechanical, information technology, bio-technology and petrochemical technology.
Diploma holders in engineering/ technology with 60 per cent marks or B.Sc. degree holders with mathematics as a subject and 60 per cent marks in the aggregate are eligible for admission to the second year of B.E./B.Tech. courses.
Candidates who do not belong to Tamil Nadu will have to furnish their nativity certificate and migration certificate for admission to the lateral entry courses.
Admission notification can be expected in the month of April/May every year.
Other Institutes
Some other institutes that admit students to engineering courses under the lateral entry scheme are the following:
Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar, offers lateral entry to engineering courses through KIIT entrance examination. Diploma holders in the relevant discipline with 60 per cent marks and age less than 24 years are eligible for admission. Branches available under the lateral entry scheme are civil, mechanical, electrical, electronics and communication, computer science and engineering, IT, and electronics and electrical engineering. Website: www.kiit.ac.in
Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam, Erode, offers lateral entry to engineering courses. Website: www.bannari.com/education. Phone: 0422-2303223.
Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal, offers lateral entry for diploma holders and B.Sc. (Mathematics) degree holders. Website: www.admissions.manipal.
edu
Noorul Islam University, Kumaracoil, Thuckalay, offers lateral entry to three-year B.Tech. programmes in computer technology, electronics and communication engineering, civil, electrical and electronics engineering for meritorious diploma holders. Website: www.niceindia.com
Thapar University, Patiala, offers admission to second-year B.E./ B.Tech. courses through lateral entry test. Website: www.thapar.edu.
Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology, Longowal (Punjab), conducts three-year B.Tech. programmes for meritorious engineering diploma holders. Website: www.sliet.ac.in. Almost all engineering colleges and institutes provide lateral entry to engineering programmes for diploma holders.
