Karnataka CET counselling postponed over seat matrix delay

Times News Network

Bengaluru: Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has postponed the Common Entrance Test (CET) counselling for engineering and other professional courses because of a delay in receiving the final seat matrix and fee structure from the higher education department.

Officials said the process has been pushed back by at least three days and is likely to commence on June 13, subject to receipt of the final seat matrix.

The seat matrix and fee structure have to be approved by the higher education minister. With the portfolio not allocated to any minister yet under the DK Shivakumar govt, the principal secretary will have to directly seek approval from the CM. “The department is going through the objections received for the draft seat matrix. Officials have sought an appointment with the CM and are hoping to secure approval for the matrix soon,” an official said.

With the delay in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), state govt had decided to commence CET counselling, independent of the schedule for medical and dental courses.

The seat matrices for other courses, including agriculture, veterinary, pharmacy, and nursing. are also expected in the next few days. However, with engineering being the biggest of all, KEA can begin the option-entry process only as soon as it gets the engineering seat matrix. “Agriculture and veterinary matrices are likely to be shared by Wednesday and pharmacy by Thursday,” said the official.

As per the engineering seat draft matrix, Karnataka has 5,000 more seats this year.

BOX

2,500 IT teacher posts to strengthen digital learning in KPS

The govt has converted 2,500 surplus primary school teacher posts into those of information technology teachers to strengthen computer education in Karnataka Public Schools (KPS). The move aims to provide computer education to students from classes 1 to 10 from the current academic year at 700 KPSs across the state, including 200 in Kalyana Karnataka region.

The govt has issued a formal order and said separate cadre and recruitment (C&R) rules will be framed for the newly created posts. The posts will carry a pay scale of Rs 44,425–83,700.