The All-India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) has permitted the business schools and institutions offering MBA and PGDM courses to admit students based on marks secured in qualifying undergraduate exams as several entrance tests could not be conducted due to COVID-19.It has also clarified that the relaxation is being made available only for the 2020-21 academic session and should not be seen as a precedent for future academic years.
AICTE Member Secretary Rajive Kumar said that All-India tests such as CAT, XAT, CMAT, ATMA, MAT, GMAT and the Common Entrance Test of respective states are the qualifying tests for admission to MBA or the Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) course. In many states, some of these entrance tests could not be conducted due to the fear of coronavirus spread, and there is no indication as to whether these tests are postponed or likely to be held or cancelled.
AICTE, being more a facilitator than a regulator, considered alternative proposition through which selection of students could be made for admission to the PGDM course which will benefit both the institutions as well as the students. Therefore, in the current scenario, the PGDM and MBA institutions are allowed to admit students on the basis of marks obtained in qualifying examinations by preparing a merit list in a transparent manner. However, first preference will be given to candidates who have appeared in any of the entrance tests and have qualified, irrespective of their marks secured at degree level as long as minimum marks are secured.The council has directed institutions to select candidates based on merit in the qualifying UG exams if there are vacant seats available.
