From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Feb 1: Common Entrance Test (CET) for admissions to under-graduate engineering courses as per state syllabus this year (2013) will be held as per a decision of the State Government.

All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) would not conduct CET in Karnataka, Higher Education Minister C T Ravi said as the State had introduced CBSE syllabus to first PUC (11th standard) only this year (2012-13)

The State Government would hold consultations with the Election Commission of India and fix examination dates to ensure that upcoming elections to the State legislative assembly would not disturb students who are appearing for the CET here, he said.

As in the previous years, the minister said the CET would be conducted this year as per the state syllabus.
AICTE would conduct all India entrance test for engineering courses from 2014, he said.

Asked about the entrance test for admission for MBBS courses, the minister said a case was before the Supreme Court and a decision on conducting all India test or State CET would be decided after the court announced its verdict.

The Apex Court is expected to hear the case on February 15.

He said a large number of government quota B.Ed. seats are vacant in private colleges, whose managements have approached the State Government to transfer those to them.

Meanwhile, he said the State Government has ordered an enquiry by Principal Secretary Higher Education Department to look into how such seats can remain vacant even as managements claimed that students are willing to pay more and get enrolled under management quota, the Minister said.

Asked about appointment of vice-chancellor to the Bangalore University, Ravi said the search committee has submitted a list of suitable candidates for the post to Governor Raj Bhavan.

He would meet the Governor on Saturday and discuss the issue, the Minister said.