In a first, SSB to conduct common PG test this year

Bhubaneswar: The higher education department has entrusted the State Selection Board (SSB) to conduct the Common Postgraduate Entrance Test (CPET) this year for admission into state public universities and colleges.
This will be the first time the entrance test will be conducted by SSB instead of a state university.
After appearing in the test, students can get a seat in any of the state universities according to his/her eligibility and performance. The CPET was started by the state government in 2020. The first CPET was conducted by Utkal University followed by Berhampur University and Sambalpur University in 2021 and 2022.
Sources said the department had asked the SSB about the expenditure of holding CPET. After analysing the expenditure incurred in conducting the test by the universities, the department found that SSB can conduct the exam at a lower cost.
“The proposal was given to SSB in February this year. After much deliberation on the issue, it has been finalised that the board will conduct the CPET and submit the rank cards to the department. Later the department will start the admission process,” said an official of the higher education department. Official sources said applications will be invited from students for CPET in the first week of May.
“The test will be conducted after the summer vacation. Admission process may start by July last week,” said the official. More than 50,000 students appear for the CPET every year.