AU heeds TANCET aspirants’ feedback, may postpone exam to May

Chennai: Anna University is planning to postpone the Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test (TANCET) to May this year. This test is mandatory for admission to MBA and MCA programmes offered in engineering, and arts and science colleges.For the ME and MTech programmes offered by university departments and govt engineering colleges, the university conducts the Common Engineering Entrance Test and Admissions (CEETA). More than 35,000 candidates appeared for these two tests last year.To address the decline in admissions to PG engineering courses in university departments and govt engineering colleges, Anna University conducted the tests in March in the past few years. Usually, the notification for the exam is released in Jan.This year, the aspirants were concerned as the notification was not released by the end of Feb third week."Anna University received feedback from candidates demanding that the exam be postponed to May this year. The university then sent a proposal to the govt to conduct TANCET/CEETA in May," an official from the university said."The eighth semester results will be published in May or June. Students claim they are not aware of the exam being conducted in March. So, the exam is likely to be conducted a week after the final semester exams," the official added.Some professors said the assembly election was one of the reasons for the plan to postpone the exam. By May, deemed universities would complete their admissions, and enrolment in university departments and govt engineering colleges could dip.However, private colleges said this would result in a delay in PG admissions in the state. "Conducting the TANCET in March ensured that enough time was available for MBA, ME, and MTech admissions. If this entrance test is postponed to May, then the admissions will be delayed," said B Chidambararajan, director of SRM Valliammai Engineering College.In 2023, Anna University introduced the CEETA-PG exam for ME and MTech courses offered in university departments, regional campuses, constituent colleges, govt engineering colleges, and govt-aided engineering colleges in the state.