Date:02/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/02/stories/2005050216690300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

87 p.c. of students attend

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The professional college admission scene will become murkier in the coming days. But the process itself got off to a start on Sunday with the Undergraduate Entrance Test (UGET) conducted by the Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK).

While the number of candidates who appeared for the test across the State is not available, about 13,200 students took the examination in 22 centres across the city. "Eighty-seven per cent of the registered candidates appeared for the test in the city," COMED-K officials said.

As many as 20,900 students had applied for the test, conducted for admission to the management quota seats in the colleges attached to the consortium. With the CET now catering for only Karnataka students, the COMED-K has become the only option for outstation candidates. In the words of Stephen, a parent, "the CET is fortunate for the Karnataka students but unfortunate for others." Anush, a student from Patna, said there are "no good engineering colleges in Bihar" and colleges in Karnataka are better. Another student from Kerala said she did not give much importance to the COMED-K because the fee is too high.