Common Entrance Test for General Degree Courses at Private Universities Under Consideration

Government to Implement Uniform Entrance Test for Private Quota Seats in 2025

The government is taking all possible measures to reform the education system whether it is about skill development courses, providing MBBS studies in Hindi for inclusive education, controlling the mushrooming coaching centers, or streamlining the admission process in private institutions. All these steps indicate a better-streamlined system where education will be inclusive as well as affordable for all.

Private universities recently agreed to the government proposal to fill  40% of their professional course quota, including engineering seats, through a uniform entrance test. This progressive approach will help to smooth the admission process and replace the need for each university to conduct the entrance exams and will lower exam conduction costs and ease the burden on students, who currently face high expenses and the hassle of filling out multiple forms. It also reduces the burden of preparing them for various university entrance exams simultaneously.

The Minister of Higher Education M.C. Sudhakar, on September 19, mentioned in his speech that for the academic year 2025-26, private universities will accept candidates who qualify in the CET, JEE (conducted by the National Testing Agency), and COMEDK for admission into professional courses. He noted that there are 32 private universities in Karnataka, 17 of which offer various professional courses, and each university conducts its entrance test to fill its quota seats. To address this issue, the government advised official agencies to manage the filling of these seats. Alternatively, universities were encouraged to form a consortium to conduct a unified examination for seat allocation.

The Minister announced that the government is exploring a common entrance test for admissions to general degree courses at private universities, noting that no decision was made earlier since government institutions do not require such tests. He also addressed high fees at private universities, stating that they must form a fee fixation committee led by a retired judge to determine appropriate tuition fees, as mandated by their governing acts. The government is taking steps towards creating uniformity among private universities. Plans are to establish a common Act to bring all the institutions under a single framework, which will regulate the independent legislation operating process. The Act will also set the annual fees for the  40% government quota seats in private colleges.

Additionally, the State government intends to form a committee to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for handling instances of academic dishonesty during examinations. This decision came into action as a report on a student suicide at PES University was presented by Bangalore University Vice-Chancellor Jayakara S.M. during the meeting. To prevent such cases in the future the committee tasked with developing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) will include psychologists and Vice-Chancellors. The SOP will apply to all higher education institutions, both private and deemed-to-be. The committee will focus on addressing issues related to exam pressure and academic malpractice while framing the guidelines.

Regarding admissions at the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE), the State government is considering prioritizing Karnataka domicile students for 25% of the seats filled through the JEE. The UVCE Act allows for 25% of seats to be filled via JEE, and they plan to implement this provision to enhance quality by attracting capable students, while also reserving 10% of those seats specifically for Karnataka residents. He pointed out that not all students who qualify for the JEE gain admission to IITs.

The University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE) will be developed based on the IIT model, by transferring 50 acres of land at the Jnana Bharati campus, also ₹500 crores has been allocated for this project, with ₹100 crores already released in the initial phase. To reduce the Governor’s powers in selecting university chancellors, the state government has no plan up to now. Regarding the  Karnataka State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj University, it functions independently of the Collegiate Education Department as mentioned by the Minister.

Editor's Note:  

For better governance, the government must implement strict measures and address the barriers that hinder the progress of a country. By working on the loopholes of the system and controlling the whimsical rules imposed by private institutions the government can enhance transparency, efficiency, and accountability, ultimately fostering a more effective and responsive administration.

Taking significant steps towards standardizing the admission process for private universities with a uniform entrance test for private quota seats set to be implemented in 2025 is a much-awaited step by the government. This initiative will streamline admissions and alleviate student burdens. Additionally, discussions about a common entrance test for general degree courses signal a commitment to making higher education more accessible and equitable. Uniformity among private institutions and Standard operating procedure to handle students cases will significantly strengthen the weak education system.
Skoobuzz appreciates the government initiative to control the private institution's examination process as well as working on fee regulation, which is a step toward a brighter future for students.