Thiruvananthapuram: All India Council for Technical Education is introducing a common entrance test for engineering college admissions in the country in 2018.
However, admissions to Indian Institutes of Technology will continue to be based on JEE-Advanced programme.
The single test will replace multiple entrance examinations of central agencies, state governments and private institutions. Institutions that keep away from the common entrance test will lose AICTE affiliation. The single test for engineering will be on lines of the National Eligibility-Cum-Entrance Test for medical and dental college admissions, launched in 2016.
Sources said AICTE on Tuesday approved a package, which includes a common national test, for improving engineering education.
The package stipulates Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM) platform for teacher training in colleges. SWAYAM was developed by the government to make the best of teaching/learning resources as part of its initiative to bridge the digital divide. These regulations will be part of the AICTE Act.
National Testing Service, announced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his budget, will conduct the common entrance test, which will be held more than once a year. AICTE also plans to revise the curriculum for engineering courses annually instead of once in five years.
Engineering students will have to undergo a two-month induction programme at the beginning of the course and a skilling programme to equip them for the industry.
