The Union human resource development minister, Mr Kapil Sibal has told the Consultative Committee of Parliament on HRD that the All India Council for Technical EducaTION, AICTE, will soon write to various state governments seeking details of vacant seats in engineering colleges.

These governments will also be asked whether recognition should be given to more engineering
colleges from these states, the minister is understood to have told the consultative committee.

Sources stated that this would help address the issue of excess engineering capacity observed in some regions.

He apprised the members that a common entrance test for engineering institutions is being envisaged which seeks to give greater and more equitable access to all through a formulation which is being worked out.