Common Proficiency Test (CPT) goes online

ICAI plans to hold the Common Proficiency Test online in 11 cities in December

Some of the one lakh Chartered Accountancy aspirants registering for the Institute of Chartered Accounts of India’s (ICAI’s) entrance test may attempt it online for the first time, in 11 cities this December. A yet-unknown but limited number of slots for the online Common Proficiency Test (CPT) were to be up for grabs on a first-come-first-served basis.

In addition to its conventional test, ICAI plans to hold it online, as a pilot project, on December 7 at centres in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Kanpur, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Nagpur. While the deadline for CPT registration was October 1, application for the exam was scheduled to begin on October 6 and will take place till October 26 or in the case of the online CPT, when all the slots are filled, “whichever is earlier.”

Says Ved Jain, President, ICAI, “Students can choose only one option,” – either the online test, or the paper-based one scheduled for December 14.

Going by official figures, the December test is drawing a large number of contenders for the Chartered Accountancy programme, revamped in 2006. About one lakh have registered for it as compared to 76,000 who sat for the CPT in June 2008.

Meanwhile, in its ever-flowing stream of activities, ICAI recently formally registered the chartered Accountants’ Student Benevolent Fund. The Fund promises payment of up to Rs. 1 lakh for treatment of specified, serious illnesses and the same amount as ex-gratia in case of unnatural or premature death. Students will not have to chip in anything in the kitty. The ICAI president has requested members to “generously” donate so the institute can give financial assistance as well as other benefits to poor and deserving learners.

ICAI is also going to introduce classroom-based certificate programmes in International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and Valuation in mid-October. The 80-hour IFRS programme is slated for debut in Delhi and Mumbai and the 100-hour Valuation course in Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai. Registration is expected to begin on October 1. Though these continuing education courses are meant for CAs, Jain said, “We can welcome people concerned with this in government ministries and departments, as well.”

IGNOU OPENNET - Merchant Navy Entrance Test - B.Sc Nautical Science - 2009

INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY

MAIDAN GARHI, NEW DELHI – 110068

ADMISSION NOTICE

B.Sc. (NAUTICAL SCIENCE) – FEBURARY 2008 SESSION

School of Engineering & Technology
Indira Gandhi National Open University

Admission Notice

B.Sc. (Nautical Science) February 2009 Session

Indira Gandhi National Open University and the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), Mumbai announce admission in B.Sc. (Nautical Science) programme commencing from 2nd February 2009. This programme of IGNOU has been developed in collaboration with the DGS and is aimed at orienting the cadets for the equivalent life at sea by providing vocationally oriented education and training so as to help them become officers in the Merchant Navy.

Eligibility Criteria:

(A) Educational (1) 10+2 WITH Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM) with not less than 55% marks in PCM aggregate from a recognized Board OR with Physics as an individual subject in any one of the years of B.Sc with not less than 50% in the final year of B.Sc. from a recognized University provided that the candidate must have passed 10+2 examination with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM) from a recognized Board OR B.E./B.Tech. Degree from I.I.T. or from a college/University recognized by AICTE/UGC/DEC. And (2) Should have passed with not less than 50% marks in English as a subject, at either 10th or 12th standard or in the Degree course, conducted by a Board or University. [Note: Those appearing in education eligibility qualifying examination are also eligible to apply provided they meet all the eligibility criteria on or before the commencement of the programme and produce the certificates to that effect.]

(B) Age (As on 2nd February 2009): Not more than 25 years. The age limit is relaxable by 2 years for female candidates and by 5 years for SC/ST candidates. (C) Physical and Medical Standards: Medically fit as per the standards prescribed by M.S. Medical Examination Rules, 2000, and Eye sight: 6/6 in each eye without visual aids and normal colour vision. (Note: The candidates are strongly advised to get themselves medically examined so as to avoid any last minute embarrassment.]

Selection Procedure: Candidates will be selected on the basis of an Entrance Test (OPENNET) which will be held on 30th November, 2008. Reservation in number of seats for SC/ST/OBC shall be prescribed by the Government of India rules. For further details please refer to the Student Handbook and Prospectus. The candidates who have been declared Qualified in Opennet examination held on 15th June, 2008, should take admission as sponsored students or attend second round of counseling for allotment of institute. Date of second round of counseling will be announced at http://www.ignou.ac.in.

Last date for submission of Application to Registrar (SRD)-in-charge, IGNOU, New Delhi: 07th November 2008.

The programme will be offered through selected Training Institutes approved by DGS and IGNOU. Details of these Institutes are available in the Students Handbook and Prospectus.

The Prospectus can be obtained from IGNOU headquarters, New Delhi on weekdays during working hours on payment of Rs. 100/- in cash from 20th October, 2008. It can also be downloaded from IGNOU website i.e. http://www.ignou.ac.in from 07th October 2008 onwards. The filled-in Application form (Form-A) along with the requisite fee of Rs. 500/- (Rs. 600/- in case of downloaded forms) in the form of Demand Draft drawn in favour of IGNOU payable at Delhi should reach in an envelope super-scribed “Application form for B.Sc. (Nautical Science)” to the Registrar (SRD)-in-charge, Block-12, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110068 on or before the last date of submission of applications.

Live interaction with prospective candidates: 10th October 2008 (Friday) 11:00-13:45 and 24th October 2008 (Friday) 14:30-16:30 on Gyan Darshan-2 TV Channel of IGNOU (available on Doordarshan’s Free DTH service and Channel No. 979 of Zee’s Dish TV DTH). Call Toll-Free no. 1800-11-2345 (from MTNL and BSNL landlines) during the interaction.