Bengaluru: The state govt is likely to request All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) to extend the last date of admission for engineering programmes as it is still on round two of counselling.As per the current norms, the last date of admission given by the apex body is Sept 15. However, with Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) planning at least three rounds of counselling, the state would require more time for admission. KEA is likely to approach the state govt, requesting it to write to AICTE for more time. Sept 30 is more likely the date that it would request. Adding to KEA’s troubles is the fact that the medical counselling committee (MCC) has decided to tentatively start the second round of All India quota counselling only from Aug 29. This is so that it can include the newly authorised MBBS seats. This would mean the state counselling of NEET second round can be held by KEA only after MCC’s second round. “The time constraint is mainly due to delayed schedule from MCC. Karnataka follows a combined counselling process for all professional courses so that students get the best possible seat of their choice. But the delay from MCC is holding up the admission process to all courses. We are now in a fix as AICTE’s last date is Sept 15. We will request an extension,” said H Prasanna, executive director, KEA. Engg college association: Speed up counselling Meanwhile, the Karnataka Unaided Private Engineering Colleges Association (KUPECA) has also written to KEA asking to speed up counselling. In the letter dated Aug 20, the association stated the consensual agreement entered between KUPECA and the govt had said KEA can conduct as many rounds as possible, but all the rounds should be completed 10 days prior to the last date fixed by AICTE. This will give them enough time to fill the management quota seats. “In view of this, to enable the managements to fill up the unfilled seats, KEA has to complete all rounds of counselling and hand over the unfilled/vacant seats on or before Sept 5,” the letter read. However, Sept 5 is nearly impossible for KEA to complete the rounds. Currently, the second round of counselling is underway and the results are expected on Aug 29. “If the increase in intake in MBBS seats is announced earlier and no new colleges are added, we can go ahead with the announced schedule. But if there are new colleges added, then we will have to re-open option entry. We will take steps appropriately,” the executive director added.
