BENGALURU: There has been a 10.60% increase in number of aspirants for under-graduate engineering seat under Common Entrance Test (CET) 2018, scheduled to be held on April 18, 19 and 20, according to the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA). During CET 2017, the total number of applications received were 1.79 lakh and this time, it has increased to 1.98 lakh.
However, during 2017, the applications included even for AYUSH courses, but this year, the applications are only for engineering, agriculture and pharma courses. "For medical and dental courses, the state has agreed to go with the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). From this year, even AYUSH courses will be under NEET. The CET will be only for engineering, agriculture and pharmacy courses," said a KEA official.
Many candidates have applied for CET 2018 as they are not sure of getting medical seats through NEET. "Earlier, it used to be a single application for all the courses. Now, we have applied for both NEET and CET. As NEET is an all-India test, I am not sure of getting a medical seat, so I applied for CET also," said a candidate.
Online CET from 2019
The higher education department is planning online mode from CET 2019. As per the discussion going on at the top level, from CET 2019, the entrance test will be online. According to sources in the education department, as this is going to be the first year, the department is thinking of conducting CET 2019 in both offline and online modes.
"As it will be on pilot basis, we are thinking of conducting both online and offline mode, taking rural students into consideration. As per the discussions presently, the idea is to follow the JEE model," explained a source in the department. "Even when we switched to online counselling, there was confusion and glitches in the first year, but later, candidates felt comfortable and now, online seat allotment is a success. Considering this, we are planning to conduct online tests," an official added.
CET 2018: April 18, 19 and 20
Total exam centres: 430
Centres in Bengaluru: 86
Total candidates registered: 1,98,639
Male: 1,00,071
Female: 98,568
Total examiners: 430
Squads: 860
No online document verification this year?
Though KEA officials are trying to conduct document verification process online since 2017, sources say that it will not be possible even this time. "To conduct document verification online, we need to tie up with several other departments. This is a long process and we don't think it will be possible this time," said a source.