54.72% of applications received by TN Engineering Admissions committee are first generation learners

Updated on: Saturday, June 08, 2013

Of the 1,89,397 applications received by the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions committee, 1,03,636, or 54.72% fall under the category of generation learners. 

Over the last couple of years, the numbers have been rising and this year's numbers is an improvement from 48.31% in 2012.

Academics say this is due to the government's continuous efforts to encourage students to pursue professional courses. Every Govt. taking helms of affairs in the state have done away with common entrance test, lowered eligibility marks and introduced schemes to enable aspirants to get an engineering degree free of cost, even in a private self-financing college.

This year, SC/ST students seeking admission to engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu must have a minimum score of 40% in Class 12. In mid-April, the Madras high court upheld the revised norms of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in this regard, the state government's attempt to bring down the eligibility criterion to a mere pass (35%).

Consequently, students who have secured between 35% and 40% have been allowed to apply this year, but the applications will be considered based on the outcome of the special leave petition filed by the government against the high court judgment.

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