Engineering management quota hiked

HYDERABAD: From the academic year 2008-09, management (B-Category) seats in engineering colleges will be increased to 25 per cent from the present 20 per cent.
A recommendation to this effect was sent to the department of higher education and a GO is likely to be issued in a couple of days.
According to an official of the education department, of the 25 per cent management quota, 15 per cent of the seats would be earmarked for NRI students.
Meanwhile, the fee structure for engineering colleges have not been declared yet. Private engineering colleges have asked for an increase in the fee apart from absorbing inflation rates.
Also, number of seats in 80 more colleges would be increased to 240. There are already 338 colleges in the state which have around 1,21,000 seats.
"Though the quota will be increased from 20 to 25 per cent, the total seats which are available for the convener quota will almost be the same or even more than that of last year as more number of colleges will be sanctioned," APSCHE, secretary, M D Christopher told 'TOI'. Along with the increase in the management quota seats for engineering, the number of management seats for MBA and MCA colleges would also be increased to 25 per cent.
The engineering colleges, however, had sought 30 per cent increase in the management quota, but the APSCHE and the department of higher education agreed for 25 per cent only.
"In certain states, the management quota is 50 per cent. We asked for 30 per cent and the government has agreed for 25 per cent. We have no complaints," Consortium of Private Engineering Colleges Managements Association (CECMA) secretary P Rajeshwar Reddy said.
The Admission and Fee Regulatory Council (AFRC) would decide on the management quota fee structure by the end of June. The exact number of seats which will be available both under the management and convener quota would be available once AICTE announces the list of colleges and the number of seats added. The Eamcet-2008 engineering counselling is likely to start in July second week.