In a significant shift in admission norms for B.Tech Biotechnology courses, the state government has revised its policies to permit students with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB) backgrounds at the undergraduate level to enroll in the program. Previously, admission was restricted to students who had passed their higher secondary school certificate examination (XII standard) with Mathematics as a core subject.
The decision aligns with a directive from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), which was implemented nationwide three years ago, though Maharashtra had not initially adopted this policy. Central universities offering B.Tech Biotechnology courses had already opened their doors to PCB group students.
Dr. Vivek Nanoti, a senior professor at Yashwantrao Chavan College of Engineering, Nagpur, highlighted that the AICTE had amended the norms for B.Tech Biotechnology courses several years ago. Despite demands from colleges within the state to adopt these changes, no decision had been made until this recent revision, which follows the implementation of the National Education Policy.
Previously, only students from the PCMB (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology) group were eligible for Biotechnology courses, resulting in limited offerings at engineering colleges affiliated with Nagpur University or autonomous institutes. With the revised rules now in effect, it is expected that more colleges will begin offering B.Tech Biotechnology courses.
Furthermore, the state’s Common Entrance Test Cell (CET Cell) has also adjusted its admission criteria to accommodate the amended norms for B.Tech Biotechnology courses.