The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) will conduct the diploma common entrance test (DCET) again on June 30 following complaints that questions in the exam, held on Sunday, were repeats of previous question papers.
In a statement, Minister for Higher Education R V Deshpande said a meeting was held with the senior KEA officials to decide how this ‘shortcoming’ could be rectified.
“It has been decided that the DCET will be reconducted on June 30 and parents and students are requested to cooperate. The candidates who will appear for this exam do not have to pay additional fees,” Deshpande said.
All 14 technical subjects, including science and mathematics (common for all branches), will be held again on June 30 and candidates can visit KEA website www.kea.kar.nic.in to download their admission tickets from 6 pm onwards on Tuesday. DCET is held for diploma students for lateral entry into second year (3rd semester) engineering courses.
According to students who appeared for DCET on Sunday, at least 60-70 per cent questions were exactly similar to last year’s question paper. The Technical Students’ Federation had demanded a reexamination.
A senior KEA official said this would not disturb the calendar of events for lateral entry. “The Supreme Court, in the Parshvanath vs All India Council for Technical Education case, stated clearly that all undergraduate technical admissions must conclude before July 30 and we are modifying our calendar to keep in line with this.”
Nischita K, who wrote the DCET on Sunday, said she was not too keen on this decision. “Now, we have to prepare all over again,” Nischitarued.