Bengaluru: The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has expressed displeasure over the delayed submission of seat matrices by various departments and has directed them to upload the matrices for Common Entrance Test (CET) counselling by the second week of May. The KEA conducts CET counselling for a wide range of courses including engineering, agriculture, allied health sciences, nursing, and pharmacy. Additionally, it manages counselling for medical, dental, and Ayush seats. Typically, counselling for all these courses is conducted simultaneously to enable students to make well-informed choices. During the online seat selection process, candidates select courses based on their preferences.
Letters Issued to Departments
KEA has sent letters to the higher education department, the directorate of medical education, health and family welfare, and various universities. The letters specify that the seat matrix for each course must be uploaded on the 'KEA Seat Matrix portal' within the second week of May. A certified copy should also be provided to the authority, along with a government order containing fee details, and a nodal officer must be appointed for coordination. KEA emphasized that all these steps require at least 20 days after receiving the seat matrix. Furthermore, all rounds of seat allocation must adhere to the schedule set by AICTE or the competent authority.
Impact of Delays
KEA warned that any delay in obtaining the seat matrix for any course could disrupt its entire counselling plan. Last year, some nursing seats were added only after the third round of counselling, forcing KEA to restart the process. The delays from universities are primarily due to the lengthy affiliation process, where local inquiry committees visit colleges to approve existing or increased intake.
Quote: "I recently held a meeting with stakeholders and I've asked them to speed up the process. The university and allied health council have been advised to send the matrices on time positively," said Mohammed Mohsin, additional chief secretary, medical education.
Courses Covered Under KEA Counselling
- Engineering and Technology
- Architecture
- Bachelor of Yoga and Naturopathy (BNYS)
- BSc (Nursing)
- Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (BVSc & AH)
- Farm Science courses (Agriculture, Sericulture, Horticulture, Forestry, Community Science, Biotechnology, Agricultural Engineering, Food Technology, Fisheries, Agriculture Business Management)
- B Pharma, Pharma (Lateral Entry)
- Medical
- Dental
- Ayush
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