The Indian Institutes Of Management (IIMs) have increased the cost of their application forms by Rs 200 for general category and OBC students and by Rs 100 for SCs and STs for CAT-2008 , reports the Times of India
Last year, the Common Admission Test (CAT) form was priced at Rs 1,100 for open category students and Rs 550 for reserved category candidates. This year, this has been raised to Rs 1,300 and Rs 650 repectively. Interestingly, the management institutes had charged Rs 1,100 for the application form in 2004 and then increased it to Rs 1,200 for general category students and Rs 600 for SC/ST candidates in 2005.
In 2006, the IIMs brought down the rate of the form to Rs 1,100 for open category and Rs 550 for reserved category students. Sale of application forms brings in crores of rupees for IIMs. If 1.72 lakh students took the CAT in 2006, the numbers touched 2.07 lakh last year.
The CAT is IIMs' golden goose. The exam rakes in handsome revenue for the management institutes. A report by the V K Shunglu (former Comptroller and Auditor-General) Commission had observed that IIM-Ahmedabad alone netted Rs 168.96 lakh in 2002-03 through CAT against Rs 4.25 lakh in 1991-92. At IIM-Bangalore, the collection was Rs 247.07 lakh, while the expenditure was Rs 51.4 lakh. In the case of IIM-Calcutta, the income from CAT increased to Rs 283.62 lakh in 2001-02 from Rs 33.97 lakh in 1992-93.
The IIMs, which will conduct the Common Admission Test on November 16 this year, have decided to continue with the paper-pencil test. Last year, the IIMs had advertised that they were looking for agencies to take the CAT online.
More Information about CAT 2008
The Council of architecture (COA), through its academic unit- National Institute of Advanced Studies in architecture (NIASA) at Pune, has been conducting National Aptitude Test in Architecture (NATA). An online examination, for admission to 1st year of 5-year B.Arch. Degree Course at all COA approved architectural institutions in the country (including NITs, IITs, Government institutions, government aided Institutions, Universalities, Deemed universities and Private Universities established by a Central or State legislature and other private institutions) since academic session 2006-2007. for the current academic session i.e. 2008-09 also, nata is being conducted by COA. It shall be mandatory for every candidate seeking admission to 5-year B.Arch. Degree Course in any COA approved architectural institution in the country to obtain valid NATA score in addition to any other selection procedure whether based on common entrance examination or marks obtained in the qualifying examination. Such scores shall be valid for a period of two years throughout the Country for the purpose of admission to any architectural institution.
The evaluation through NATA is a mandatory requirement for candidates for eventual registration as an architect on successful completion of 5-year B.Arch. Degree course. It is hereby clarified that any aptitude test conducted by individual institution or by any agency or authority holding a common entrance examination where such common entrance examination is mandated shall no longer be valid for the purposes of admission to COA approved architectural institutions in such states.
The eligibility criteria for admission to 5-year B.Arch. Course and for appearing in the NATA shall be as follows:
10+2 or equivalent form a recognized Board/university with Mathematics as a subject of examination with at least 50% aggregate marks. OR
10+3 Diploma (any stream) recognized by Central/State Governments with 50% aggregate marks. OR
International baccalaureate Diploma, after 10 years of schooling, with not less than 50% marks in aggregate and with mathematics as compulsory subject of examination.
The candidates are advised to access the NATA website: www.nata.in to download the Information brochure and list of Test Centres. For Further details and information regarding conduct of NATA please contact, NIASA (Tel: 020-22952262, 65731088, Mob: 09423582528 Email: niasa_2005@yahoo.co.in, niasa@rediffmail.com ).
The admissions shall be carried out by respective State Government/Competent Authority/Association of Architectural Institutions in the State, based on the valid NATA score and marks secured in the qualifying examination in the ratio of 50:50. The prospective students are strongly advised t o confirm the approval status of institutions form COA website before taking admission.
After admissions, all institutions shall be required to submit a list of students admitted in the B.Arch. course along with their NATA score as well as marks in qualifying examination, to COA.
