Online counselling for engineering to start from May 3

In addition, the government has established 42 Engineering Admissions Facilitation Centres (TFCs) to help the rural applicants and aspirants who do not have access to internet facility. “The original certificate verification for all the applicants will be done at these TFCs,” he added. 

Stating that a booklet containing information about colleges would be given to the applicants to prepare their choice list, the minister said TFCs would screen videos demonstrating how to use the TNEA portal during various stages of counselling. 

He said the TFCs would provide the required support and guidance to the applicants, besides extending internet-enabled computer facilities. 

“Applicants can use TFCs to complete the different stages like registration of applications, providing college preferences and collection of allotment orders,” he said, adding, “TFC will start functioning after the TNEA schedule notification. Subsequently, a merit list will be prepared for the eligible applicants and published through the TNEA portal,” he said. A week would be reserved for addressing applicants’ grievances after the publication of the merit list, he said. 

Pointing out that the last date of registration of online application will be on May 30, the minister said the applicants would be grouped based on a merit list into rounds, and each group of applicants would be allowed into the counselling system round-wise. 

He said special counselling for students, like eminent sportspersons, differently-abled persons, vocational and supplementary would be held in Chennai. “A total of 567 colleges will offer engineering seats this year,” he added.