The state government will object to the Union HRD ministry’s decision to replace IIT-JEE and AIEEE from next year with a single national entrance test — Indian Science Engineering Eligibility Test (Iseet). Deputy Chief Minister Damodara Raja Narasimha and principal secretary of higher education G. Gopal will place the state’s objections during the State Education Ministers’ Conference to be held in New Delhi on February 22.

In the HRD ministry’s scheme of things, the Iseet will carry a weightage of 40 per cent for 10+2 while giving admissions to IITs, NITs, IIITs and Centrallyfunded technical institutes. The HRD ministry has also been asking states to replace their respective common entrance tests -Eamcet in the case of Andhra Pradesh -with Iseet from 2014 for admissions to engineering colleges across the country to save students from the trouble of appearing for multiple exams and to relieve them from incurring unnecessary expenditure towards additional exam fees etc. The decision to scrap IIT-JEE and AIEEE from 2013 has evoked protests from students, parents, teachers and college managements, who say the timing is wrong.

They argue that any change should be applicable to a fresh batch of students who will take admissions in 10+2 courses in the coming academic year (2012) so that they can prepare accordingly to face Iseet in 2014. They have asked the state government to urge the Centre to implement Iseet from 2014 so that students who are currently doing their 10+2 courses can appear for IIT-JEE and AIEEE as usual in 2013. Single exam for IIT, AIEEE from 2013 The Centre has decided to replace IIT-JEE and AIEEE from 2013 with a single exam, called Indian Science Engineering Eligibility Test (Iseet). Centre wants state-level tests like Eamcet also to be replaced by Iseet by 2014.

AP wants Iseet to be introduced along with Neet for medical course in 2014. replace their respective co Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy has asked deputy chief minister Damodara Raja Narasimha, who holds the higher education portfolio, to take up the Indian Science Engineering Eligibility Test (Iseet) issue with the Centre during the State Education Ministers’ Conference in New Delhi and to explain the problems that students from Andhra Pradesh will face in case Indian Institute of Technology — Joint Entrance Examination and All India Engineering Entrance Examination are abolished in 2013 itself.

He has also asked Mr Raja Narasimha to convey the opinion of the state government that it has no objection if Iseet is implemented from 2014 along with National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for MBBS admissions. The Central government will be urged by the State to give flexibility to states regarding determining the weightage to be given to 10+2 marks for admissions to all major professional courses.