Common PG entrance tests to start from Sept 30
Bhubaneswar: For the first time, the higher education department will hold the Common PG Entrance Test (CPET-2020) between September 30 and October 7 for admission to PG courses in the state’s universities and autonomous colleges.
According to the department sources, the online common application form (CAF) will be available on www.samsodisha.gov.in from 2 pm onwards on Wednesday. Last date for online application is 11.45 pm on August 31. Students can download hall ticket from the website from September 20.
Candidates, whose final undergraduate (UG) results are yet to be published can also apply online to appear for the test. But, they must upload their marksheet before the preparation of the final merit list by 11.45 pm on October 10 (11.45pm).
The universities conducting CPET will handover the entrance marks to Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC) here by October 20 and the state merit list will be published on October 25. The universities will complete the admission process by November 20 and start first year class of PG from December 1, said the official sources. “Any change in the dateline will be published in the newspapers and websites,” said the department sources.
Asoka Kumar Das, vice-chairman of Odisha State Higher Education Council, said the department will conduct the entrance test for eight days because students from different subjects are expected to appear for the test. “The examinations will be conducted in different sittings to accommodate students of more than 50 subjects,” he added.
In April, higher education minister Arun Kumar Sahoo had discussed with vice-chancellors of state universities about holding the test. Another meeting was held recently to finalise the process before publication of advertisement for the entrance test.
The common entrance test will bring all universities to a single platform and students will fill a single form and appear for one entrance test for all state universities. After appearing this one test, students will get a seat in any of the state universities according to his/her eligibility and entrance performance.
Currently, a student has to submit application forms separately for each university and appear for multiple entrance examinations on different dates.