New Delhi: The Union Human Resources Development Minister, Kapil Sibal, defended the government’s decision on the idea of conducting combined entrance test with other premier engineering institutes. He stated that it was taken unanimously in consultation with the concerned councils. The idea has drawn a lot of criticism especially from Indian Institutes of Technology(IITs) in the country.

Defending the decision, on Thursday, he stated that the IIT Council along with the NIT Council and IIIT Council have unanimously taken this decision. It is completely wrong to say that it is a government’s decision as it does not get involved in policy decisions taken by the IIT Council, he added.

The IIT Faculty Federation had shot off a letter to PM Manmohan Singh strongly opposing the move. With support from former IITians, the alumini association stated that it was looking at legal options to oppose the move.

Renowned IIT mentor from Bihar, Anand Kumar, highlighted the practical problems in introducing the new format of entrance exams for admission.

He stated that the combined entrance test will be tough for the students of the rural areas to crack. The advanced test and the main test conducted together will add to the pressure on students, he said.

It is also believed that the test would also downgrade the importance of the premier institutes. Students have also voiced their opposition to Sibal’s decision saying it would only add to the burden on the students of 12th standard.

(With Agencies input)