Thiruvananthapuram: A total of 95,016 candidates appeared for the Kerala engineering entrance examination, which was conducted in computer-based test (CBT) mode from April 17 to 22. This marks an increase of 8,086 candidates compared to the previous year. For the BPharm entrance test, 30,970 candidates appeared.
Exam Centres Across India and Abroad
The examination was held at 152 centres within Kerala, along with centres in other Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru. Additionally, international centres were established in Sharjah, Bahrain, and Kuwait. As many as 1,684 candidates appeared for the test at non-Kerala centres.
Challenges in the Middle East
Conducting the examination in the Middle East posed significant challenges for the office of the entrance commissioner due to the tense geopolitical situation in the region. Since schools in Dubai were closed, candidates who had opted for that city were provided with an opportunity to appear at a new centre set up in Sharjah. Similarly, additional exam centres were established in Kuwait and Bahrain to accommodate students in those countries. The Indian embassies in the four foreign countries extended their services to facilitate the smooth conduct of the tests in the Gulf region.
Technical Assistance and Migration to CBT
The Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (C-DIT), which developed the entrance software, provided technical assistance and training to the personnel managing the exam centres. The entrance examination migrated to the computer-based test format in 2024, following the model of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).
Candidates Allotted Exam Venues in Home Districts
Authorities stated that maximum candidates were allotted exam venues in their home districts. However, difficulties were encountered in districts like Kozhikode, where sufficient venues could not be arranged. To overcome this challenge, temporary centres were set up with the help of KELTRON in IHRD colleges and some schools. Universities and the technical education department also contributed by rearranging their exam schedules to support the conduct of the test.
