Kerala seeks extension of AICTE deadline for engineering admissions

The Higher Education department in Kerala has requested the Union Ministry of Education to extend the deadline for engineering admissions, citing concerns over vacant seats in government colleges and objections to the current decentralized spot admissions process. The deadline set by the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is August 14, 2026.

Other states have also sought an extension due to issues like examination irregularities, floods, and deficiencies in the Central Board of Secondary Education’s evaluation process. The Commissioner for Entrance Examinations conducted three rounds of allotment this year, but students feel there was little change in the first two rounds, given the simultaneous processing of national-level admission processes.

A parent from Kozhikode suggests a fourth round could have benefited those eligible for vacant seats. The state’s centralized spot admissions process, once held at Government Engineering College, Thrissur, has been replaced by separate sessions at various colleges this year. Parents argue that students only learn about seat vacancies after attending the process at a particular college, leaving them with limited options if vacancies persist.

Concerns also arise that students who already hold admissions in self-financing colleges may not shift to government colleges due to higher fees. The AICTE's deadline could further limit opportunities for those unable to secure medical admissions. The Students’ Federation of India claims the decentralized process primarily benefits self-financing colleges, while parents from poor families argue self-financing college managements are not providing no-objection certificates for participation.