Because the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) revised the eligibility slab for aggregate marks in Science subjects from 45% to 50% for engineering seats, this year, only 60,543 candidates are eligible for engineering seats in the state, against the 71,639 last year. In view of this change, Karnataka has decided they will approach the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) in a bid to cancel this change in the eligibility cap for engineering courses, as they feel it would deny many students the chance to pursue a course in this field.

Higher education minister VS Acharya said that Principal Secretary of the Higher Education Department Latha Krishna Rao will meet AICTE officials to present the state government’s view on the issue.

“Due to this, about 17,000 students have been denied CET rankings this year. So we fear that this may lead to further increase in the number of vacant engineering seats in the state,” Acharya said. He went on to say that there were plans to set up three new engineering colleges in the state, including one in Bangalore. “We are waiting for the approval of AICTE to start the new colleges.’’