OPECA wants deemed varsities to fall under JEE-main

OPECA (Odisha Private Engineering College Association), wants to bring deemed universities in the state under JEE-mai, the national level examination for undergraduate engineering admissions. The issue was raised by the private engineering colleges during the meeting of the Policy Planning Body (PPB) of professional education in the state.

"We propose the government pursues the matter the Union Human Resource Development Minister MM Pallam Raju and the UGC. Without this, there will be no level playing field," says Binod Dash, secretary OPECA.

Chandra Shekhar Kumar, Principal Secretary (technical education) says "the matter was discussed in the PPB and I have already requested the MHRD to look into the matter."

The state government has proposed filling up of 50% engineering and architecture undergraduate seats in the deemed universities (KIIT University and SOA University) through state merit list is generated through JEE-main. The state also wants counselling for these 50% seats through Odisha JEE authorities , just like the colleges under state universities.

A spokesperson from the SOA university says "the very purpose of according deemed university status was to give more autonomy to these institutions."

KIIT registrar, Sasmita Samant opined "if the center evolves a uniform policy for all deemed universities, KIIT would not have any problem."

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