The Engineering, Agriculture and Medicine Common Entrance Test (EAMCET) 2015 in Andhra Pradesh will be conducted on May 10, Minister for HRD Ganta Srinivasa Rao announced here on Wednesday. JNTU-Kakinada will conduct the test.
Other common entrance tests to be held are ECET and PECET on May 14, ICET on May 16, PGCET on May 25, EdCET on May 28 and LawCET on May 30.
Andhra Pradesh Government decided to conduct EAMCET for its students after its many efforts to convince the Telangana Government to have a common test for the two States failed, Mr. Srinivasa Rao said and blamed Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhara Rao for not behaving in a manner befitting his post but continuing to be leader of an agitation. A common EAMCET would have benefited students of both States, he said.
"Though legal option is available, it might also drag on the issue. The AP Government has decided to conduct EAMCET on its it own following requests from students, their parents and students' organisations, since the students would suffer in future if the entrance test is not held during May," the Minister said.
A committee will be formed to conduct EAMCET 2015 with Vice-Chancellor of JNTU-K, a Convener appointed by it, representatives from three universities, directors of Technical Education and Medical Education, Secretary Higher Education, a representative of the A.P. State Council of Higher Education and Principal of a private engineering college, as members.
A total of 1,65,000 seats are available in the engineering colleges of the universities and under private management in the State and 1,16,732 of them will be filled up under Convener's quota. More than two lakh students are expected to appear for the test.
Mr. Srinivasa Rao said students from A.P. who wish to join some prestigious engineering colleges in Hyderabad have to appear for the EAMCET to be conducted by Telangana on May 14. He also revealed that the number of students from A.P. joining colleges in Hyderabad and vice-versa is almost equal.
Answering a question on more number of seats available in engineering college than the number of applicants, the HRD Minister said a committee was looking into the issue and decide for the next academic year whether to continue with admissions with EAMCET or based on the marks obtained in the Intermediate.
An expert committee is also being formed with people from reputed institutions abroad also, to suggest reforms in primary and higher education in the State. Grading of engineering colleges based on the strength of faculty and infrastructure available, is being done.
Pratibha awards on May 27
The State Government would present Pratibha awards to 4,000 meritorious students at a function to be held in Tirupati on May 27. This year the function is being organised on a grand and elaborate manner, Mr. Srinivasa Rao said.
