Kerala engineering/pharmacy entrance exams likely in June

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: State entrance test for selection of candidates eligible for admission to engineering, pharmacy and architecture degree courses is likely to be held in June, provided the Covid-19 related restrictions and emergencies are over in Kerala by then.
“Ideally, we would like to conduct the entrance examination in June so that admission process and academic activities could start at the earliest,” said state commissioner for entrance examinations A Geetha. The entrance examination was originally scheduled for April 20 and 21 and around 1.10 lakh candidates have applied for the same. NEET rank is the criterion for admission to medical courses in the state and the allotment of medical seats in Kerala too is carried out by the commissioner for entrance examinations. NEET and JEE examinations are scheduled for July.
The entrance commissionerate has held talks with the Indian embassy in Dubai regarding the assistance it may require for the conduct of entrance examination there in case air connectivity is not available when Kerala will be set for conducting the test.
“We can conduct the examination online, for which the entrance commissionerate is fully equipped. Or else, the commissionerate can explore diplomatic channels for taking entrance question booklets physically to Dubai,” entrance commissioner said. KEAM is conducted in 18 centres, including Kerala, New Delhi, Mumbai and Dubai.
Following the lockdown and postponement of entrance examination, the commissionerate has given opportunity for candidates to change the examination centre opted by them. However,the future course of action of the state entrance examination authorities depends a lot on the impact of the pandemic in other states as well. It’s not sure whether candidates who have opted for Mumbai and Delhi centres would be able to take up the test in the month of June. Also, situation in north Indian states have to improve considerably by June as the consignment of question booklets printed in undisclosed places outside Kerala needs to be safely transported to Kerala.
Normally, the commissionerate doesn’t open the question booklet packets, but only sort them out for distribution to each exam centres. Though the state government had been gearing up to conduct KEAM online this year, the same was kept in abeyance for lack of confidence.