State revises minimum marks required for engg admissions

The decision, which will be implemented from the coming academic year, was based on the recommendation of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). 

In a Government Order (GO) issued to this effect, State Higher Education Secretary Mangat Ram Sharma said the AICTE, the apex body for technical education in the country, had sent a detailed proposal fixing the minimum eligibility marks in related subjects.  

As per the existing norms, students had to secure a mere pass (35 per cent) in Class 12 examinations with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. They also had to study at least one of the relevant subjects such as Chemistry, Bio-Technology and Biology. This served as the entry-level qualification for admission to engineering courses.

"The government after a careful examination has decided to accept the recommendations and fix the minimum eligibility marks on par with the AICTE norms," he said.

Accordingly, the minimum marks for SC/ST students, set at 35 per cent till last year, was increased to 40 per cent. However, it has been lowered for the General and Backward Classes (BC) students. The minimum marks to be secured in related subjects for general category students has been reduced to 45 from 50 per cent. Similarly, the cut-off for engineering aspirants from BC community has been reduced to 40 per cent, down by 5 per cent.

 “The State has always set the minimum eligibility marks higher than that prescribed by the AICTE except for SC/ST candidates for whom it was a mere pass keeping in line with the AICTE norms,” Mangat Ram Sharma said.