The Karnataka Examinations Authority ( KEA) has announced that it will revamp the Common Entrance Test (CET) process from the next academic year. The CET is a state-level entrance exam that is conducted by the KEA for admission to various undergraduate courses in engineering, pharmacy, agriculture, and other fields offered by the government and private colleges in Karnataka. The CET is usually held in April or May every year and the results are declared in June or July.

According to the KEA, the revamp of the CET process is aimed at making it more transparent, efficient, and student-friendly. The KEA has proposed the following changes in the CET process from the next year:

• The CET will be conducted in online mode instead of offline mode. The online mode will enable the KEA to conduct the exam in multiple sessions and reduce the chances of malpractice and errors. The online mode will also allow the students to take the exam from their preferred locations and save time and money.
• The CET will be based on the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the revised syllabus of the Karnataka State Board. The NEP 2020 is a comprehensive policy that aims to transform the education system in India and make it more holistic, flexible, and inclusive. The revised syllabus of the Karnataka State Board is aligned with the NEP 2020 and covers the core concepts and skills of the subjects. The CET will test the students on their conceptual understanding, analytical ability, and problem-solving skills.
• The CET will have a common paper for all the courses and a separate paper for each course. The common paper will consist of 90 questions from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, with 30 questions from each subject. The separate paper will consist of 60 questions from the specific subject of the course, such as Biology, Agriculture, etc. The duration of each paper will be 90 minutes and the total marks will be 180. The questions will be of multiple-choice type and there will be no negative marking.
• The CET will have a common application form and fee for all the courses and categories. The candidates will have to fill the online application form on the official website or portal of the KEA and pay the application fee of Rs. 500 for general and OBC candidates, Rs. 250 for SC, ST, and PwD candidates, and Rs. 750 for candidates from outside Karnataka. The candidates will also have to upload the required documents, such as the photograph, signature, thumb impression, etc. The candidates will have to choose the exam center and slot according to their convenience and availability.
• The CET will have a common counseling and seat allotment process for all the courses and categories. The counseling and seat allotment process will be conducted by the KEA in online mode. The candidates will have to register for the counseling process on the official website or portal of the KEA and fill their choices of colleges and courses in the order of their preference. The candidates will have to lock their choices before the deadline. The KEA will allot seats to the candidates based on their CET rank, category, choices, and seat availability. The candidates will have to report to the allotted college for document verification and admission confirmation.

The revamp of the CET process is expected to benefit the students and the colleges in many ways. The online mode will make the exam more accessible, convenient, and secure. The NEP 2020 and the revised syllabus will make the exam more relevant, comprehensive, and skill-based. The common paper and application form will make the exam more uniform, simple, and affordable. The common counseling and seat allotment process will make the admission more transparent, fair, and fast.

The KEA has invited feedback and suggestions from the students, parents, teachers, and stakeholders on the proposed changes in the CET process. The KEA will finalize the details and guidelines of the CET process after considering the feedback and suggestions. The KEA will also release the official notification, brochure, and schedule of the CET process on the official website or portal of the KEA. The candidates who are interested in appearing for the CET should keep themselves updated with the latest information and announcements regarding the exam on the official website or portal of the KEA.