ADMISSIONS, FACULTY AND STANDARDS
ADMISSIONS
A-Under-Graduate Courses 2.01. All the Central Engineering Colleges, except the one at Srinagar, have been approved for a total annual admission of 250 students from the very beginning. The Srinagar College was approved for an annual admission of only 120 students initially. From 1960, however, this college also started admitting 250 students. From the year 1968-69, however, owing to the difficult employment position amongst engineering graduates, there was a cut back in the admissions to the Institutions. The admissions from that year ranged from 160- 200.
2.02. 50% of the students admitted to each college every year, as per the scheme, are to be from the State in which the college is located and the other 50% of the students are admitted from other States. The other States seats are allotted to each State on the basis of its population and the domicile of the candidate is determined by the location of the qualifying examination authority. Where the number of seats allotted to a State are not taken by students from that State, in the other States group, they are allotted to the students from the remaining other States to a group. The institutions also reserve seats for Scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in accordance with the constitutional obligations.
2.03. Most of the colleges are following the 5-year integrated degree course after a pass in the Higher Secondary examination or equivalent. Some of the colleges are also following the 4 year course after a pass in the intermediate examination.
2.04. Eligibility for admission is laid down by the colleges individually. These are variations, and examples showing the variations are given below:-
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(a)5-Year Integrated Degree Course College Eligibility for admissions
1. Regional Engineering Higher Secondary or equivalent College Warangal examination with mathematics, physics, and chemistry and not less than 50% of the total marks in mathematics (for a maximum of 200) and physics and chemistry (for a maximum of 100).
2.Karnataka Regional Engg. Higher Secondary or equivalent College, Surathkal. examination with not less than 35% marks in physics, chemistry and mathematics.
3.Regional Engineering Higher Secondary or equivalent with College, Tiruchirapalli. 60% of the marks in Mathematics Physics and Chemistry put together and at least 50% in each of the two subjects-mathematics and physical sciences (Physics and Chemistry).
4.Regional Engineering Higher Secondary or equivalent exa- College, Kurukshetra. mination with not less than 50% marks in English, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
6.Regional Engineering Higher Secondary or equivalent exami- College, Srinagar. nation with Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.
(b) 4-year course Motilal Nehru Regional Intermediate or equivalent examina- Engineering College, tion (with at least 50% marks) with Allahabad. Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.
2.05. Information regarding admissions was collected from the institutions for the five years 1968-69 to 1972-73. This information was analysed and presented in annexure III, in four parts. Part A shows the distribution of under-graduate admissions between the state in which the college is located and the other states. Part B shows the quality of undergraduate admissions in each college. Part C gives the number of applications received by the colleges and the quality of such application for admis-
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sions. Part D shows the admissions secured by students from each state in all the Central Engineering Colleges.
2.06. In what follows, our observations on the quality of admissions is purely based on the information received from the various colleges. We have also noticed some discrepancies in the information so furnished. We are also fully conscious of the fact that there are highly varying standards in the various qualifying examinations for admission. Since 50% of the admissions are from within -the State and the rest are distributed all over the country, the quality referred to will largely be related to the standard of the qualifying examinations in the State itself. Therefore, the classification of the institutions from the observations on the quality of their admissions may not represent a very true position. Nevertheless, we believe it would give a general indication of the quality of admissions.
2.07. A study of the distribution of under-graduate admissions as shown in part A of the statement will enable us to place the different institutions in three categories. In the first category of institutions may be placed the colleges which have admitted 45-50% of the students every year from other states. These are the colleges located in Warangal, Tiruchirapalli, Nagpur, Surat, Bhopal, Allahabad and Rourkela. Of these, again, the colleges at Surat, Bhopal and Rourkela have admitted practically 50% of the students from other States, although, a tendency is noticeable in these institutions that this percentage is decreasing. In the second category of institutions, we may consider those colleges which have admitted 25- 40% of the students from other states. These are colleges located at Surathkal, Calicut, Jaipur, Kurukshetra and Jarnshedpur. The third category of institutions are those which have admitted from outside states only upto 25%. These are the colleges located at Durgapur and Srinagar.
2.08. It will thus be seen that only half the number of colleges have adhered to the agreed pattern of admissions and the other half, for some reason or other, have not been able to comply with this requirement. It is necessary to understand the various reasons for the institutions not being able to fully comply with this important condition aiming at national integration so that suitable measures may be considered to ensure all the colleges complying with this requirement and thereby help national integration.
2.09. After a perusal of part B of the statement, which shows the quality of admissions, we may place the institutions again in three categories on the basis of total number of candidates admitted with first class performance (60% and above) in the qualifying examination. The first category of institutions may be regarded as those which have admitted
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70-100% of the candidates with first class qualifications. The colleges at Tiruchirapalli, Jaipur, Surathkal, Bhopal and Nagpur may be placed in this category. It may be particularly observed that the colleges at Tiruchirapalli and Jaipur have admitted 100% of the students with first class performance in the qualifying examination. In the second category of institutions we may place the colleges located at Warangal, Calicut, Srinagar, Allahabad and Durgapur which have admitted between 50-70% of the students with first class performance in the qualifying examination. In the third category of institutions we may place the colleges located at Surat, Kurukshetra, Rourkela and Jamshedpur which have admitted less than 50% of students with first class performance in qualifying examination. In particular it may be observed that the colleges at Surat and Jamshedpur have admitied less than 1/3 of the students with first class performance in the qualifying examination.
2.10. It will be observed from part B of the statement that students admitted to the colleges in the State quota of seats are in almost all the colleges those with first class performance in the qualifying examination. The quality of students admitted in any college from other states is, however, comparatively much poorer than the quality of students admitted from own state. It will also be observed that other states students prefer to go to any other college which is located in their own region, nearer to their homes if they cannot get admission to the Central Engineering College of their own state. This is now possible because facilities for engineering studies are available throughout the country and there is a natural reluctance on the part of students to go far away from their own homes in pursuance of such studies. On account of reservations for other states students. it is also possible that much weaker students from other states have often an advantage for admission to a Central Engineering College if they choose to go far away from their own homes.
2.11. On account of the factors mentioned above, the colleges, in general, are not able to attract students with first class performance in the qualifying examination for other states quota of seats. This is supported by the statement which shows that only 10 colleges have been able to admit over 25 students or more from outside states with first class performance in the qualifying examination.
2.12. Part C of the statement shows the applications received by each college and the quality of such applications. The number of applications with first class performance, to any college from other states, it will be observed, is very small. Moreover, any such applicant when offered an admission is not sure to join if he obtains admission in an Institution nearer to his home. The above facts of insufficient response and poor quality of admissions to Central Engineering Colleges from students of
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other states lead us to emphasise that appropriate measures are neces- sary to improve the situation.
B-Post-graduate courses 2.13. Students who complete their first degree courses join postgraduate courses if they can obtain a stipend. Such a stipend is admissible, according to present rules, only to those candidates who obtain not less than 55% of the marks at the first degree examination. It may, therefore, be presumed that all the students admitted to the post-graduate courses as shown in the statement in part E of Annexure III would have obtained at least 55% marks.
2.14. The sanctioned admission capacity for each post- graduate course is 10. It will be seen from the statement that in almost all the colleges the utilisation of post-graduate facilities is not 100%. Assuming that utilisation of at least 50% of the facilities is satisfactory, we may say that in almost all the colleges the utilisation can be regarded as satisfactory. However, there is some wastage if we consider the out-turn of students from any batch and intake of the corresponding batch at admission. This wastage is much higher-about 70-90%.
2.15. This high wastage occurs because immediately after graduation, the students take up post-graduate courses, but look, for suitable employment. As soon as they get good employment, they leave the course, because they derive no additional benefit by acquiring a post-graduate qualification. On the contrary they may have again to compete with the first degreeholders for the same type of jobs.
2.16. We would recommend the closure or postponement of admissions to post-graduate courses where the wastage is higher than 70% of the intake in the corresponding year or where the admission is less than 30% of the sanctioned intake for some years in succession. In doing so the national priority needs should be kept in view.
2.17. In our view, post-graduate courses can be a success, where at least 50% of the admissions are through sponsored candidates. Specialised post-graduate training offered at these colleges would be of benefit to both Government Departments and public sector organisation and efforts should be made to get sponsored candidates from them.
2.18. The Central Engineering Colleges are intended to have an all - India character and to serve the whole country for the training of technical personnel required for the successive five-year plans. A very important objective of. national integration was also incorporated in the scheme by
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laying down that 50% of the admissions to each college should be from the state in which the college is located and the other 50% should be from other states.
2.19. The analysis of admissions as shown in the foregoing paragraphs reveals the fact that the objective of national integration through admissions has only been partially fulfilled. Only 7 colleges have been able to admit 45-50% of the students from other States.
2.20. The main reason for this is that at present facilities for engineering education are available throughout the country. Students are, therefore, reluctant to go to far off places for pursuing technical studies in engineering colleges, as it would cost them extra, not only on travel, but also on having to reside away from their homes and the environment to which they are used. The very same reasons also make it possible for students of comparatively less merit gaining admission in Central Engineering Colleges far away from their homes, in the ex-state quota of seats.
2.21. We place great importance on the realisation of the objective of national integration through admissions all over the country. To make this possible, it is necessary to offer financial incentives to good quality students.
2.22. Incentives can be provided without much additional cost, but by some suitable adjustment of the facilities already provided. As regards travel to far off places, the Indian railways already allow concessional fares for students for their travel, between their places of study and homes. We suggest that, in addition, the college should provide full rail concessional fares by third class once in a year to students from other states whose homes are more than 500 km from the colleges, with the proviso that the fare for the first 500 kms, will be borne by the students.
2.23. In addition, we also suggest that the existing number of scholarships (merit-cum-means) available in each college should be divided equally between students admitted from within the state and those admitted from other states. This measure, we are sure, will attract students of good quality from other states.
2.24. To further promote national integration, we suggest that each college should provide opportunities for students from other states to imbibe something of the language and culture of the state. Classes for providing instruction in this respect may be organised and students from other states may be encouraged to attend these classes. Institution of prizes in debate, drama and other activities in the language of the state for students, from other states whose mother- tongue is not the language
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of the state should prove very helpful in creating enthusiasm in students from other states to learn something of the life and culture of the state and understand its people better.
2.25. The analysis of quality of admissions made to the Regional Engineering Colleges shows that while it is satisfactory in some colleges, in the others immediate steps are necessary to step up the quality of admissions. We also referred to the fact that the quality of admission indicated for each college will largely be based on the quality of qualifying examination for students admitted within the state. We are all aware of the highly varying standard of these qualifying examinations.
2.26. We have earlier pointed out that the 'Iwo groups of institutions. the Institutes of Technology and the Central Engineering Colleges have been established with substantial investments from the Central resources. The objectives of each group should, therefore, be complementary to the objectives of the other.
2.27. The Central Engineering Colleges should play the role of second line all India institutions to the Institutes of Technology. Primarily the Central Engineering Colleges should provide high quality first degree training and enable Institutes of Technology to shift their emphasis further to post-graduate courses and research work.
2.28. These complementary functions, visualised for the Central Engineering Colleges and the Institutes of Technology, can be successfully performed only if the quality of admissions is uniformly high in all the colleges. In this context, it may be observed that even within the State there may be more than one qualifying examination for entrance with variations in standards.
2.29. Therefore, the most direct answer to this question is a common entrance examination for all the colleges, preferably common with the Institutes of Technology, whether it be for admissions from the state quota or for admissions of students from other states. The scheme in fact envisaged a common admission examination (1.22) but it was never implemented which led to the present rather unsatisfactory situation.
2.30. During our discussions with the representatives of the State governments, in our visits to the Central Engineering Colleges, when the question of State Governments taking over the entire financial responsibility for recurring expenditure as provided for in the initial scheme was raised, their general reaction was that they should not have to do it if only 50% of the state students get admitted to the college (although this condition was provided for in the original scheme). We pointed out to
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the State representatives that their students are being admitted to Central Engineering Colleges in other States in the ex-state quota. Thus, while they set apart 50% of the seats for students from other states, they can get an equal number of admissions for their students in colleges in other states. To illustrate this point, we have compiled part D of the statement on admissions which- shows for each state, yearwise admissions made to the Central Engineering College in that State and admission secured by students from that State in the Central Engineering Colleges of other States. From this statement it will be seen that while students from all States have utilised the facility, in particular the students from Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar have made good use of the opportunities.
2.31. We have suggested financial incentives to increase the admission of good quality students from other States in each Central Engineering College. In our discussions with the State Governments during our visits to the colleges, we gained the general impression that their main concern is that the present arrangement of 50% of admissions being made from students within the state, should not be disturbed. This certainly is possible even if admissions are made from a common entrance examination. We have also noticed a good measure of agreement on the part of the State Government representatives for a common admission test for all state as well as ex-state quota-if 50% seats are allotted to students from within the State.