50,000 students rush to apply for agricultural courses at TNAU

COIMBATORE: For the first time, the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) has received more than 50,000

applications for undergraduate

admissions,

indicating a growing

interest among the students for the subject. The uncertainty prevailing over medical admissions can be attributed as another reason for the sudden spike in the number of applications. The sharp increase in candidates will, however, increase the cut off by three-four marks for agriculture and allied courses this year.

On Saturday 11.30am, the vice-chancellor of TNAU, K Ramasamy, released the rank list. A total of 53,047 students applied for admission online this year, of which 49,030 submitted their applications successfully. This is a 33% increase from last year, when only 39,722 candidates applied for agriculture courses.

The number of seats available with the TNAU's constituent and self-financing colleges is 2,820. "The rise in the number of applications indicates the increasing interest among the students in agriculture. Another reason is apprehensions over the national eligibility-cum-entrance test (NEET)," Ramasamy said.

R Krishnan

, dean for agriculture, TNAU, said the cut off for agriculture courses was expected to go up three-four marks this time.

The probability of some self-financing colleges losing their recognition, meanwhile, would add to the competition for seats this year. "Out of the 21 self-financing agriculture colleges, four are likely to lose their recognition this year as they lack enough infrastructures. Three are agriculture colleges, while the fourth is a horticulture college," said Ramasamy. This will reduce the number of seats by 240.

However, the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) and TNAU have given no-objection certificate to bring back two of the old self-financing agricultural colleges. "Palar Agricultural College, Gudiyattam, and Aravindar Agricultural College, Tiruvannamalai, that were barred from admission in 2014-15 have been awarded permission to carry out admissions," Ramasamy said.