Deemed varsity engg degrees without AICTE nod invalid: HC

Deemed varsity engg degrees without AICTE nod invalid: HC 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  06.05.2026

Chennai : Engineering degrees obtained from deemed-to-be universities during a period without AICTE approval are not valid, the Madras high court said. Approval is mandatory for technical courses, and benefits based on unapproved degrees cannot be sustained, the court added. 

A division bench of Justice S M Subramaniam and Justice K Surender passed the order on a review application moved by the Tamil Nadu Transport Corporation (Villupuram) Ltd seeking review of an order passed by the court dated June 25, 2025. The issue pertains to pleas moved by three employees of the corporation seeking to include their names in the seniority list of assistant engineers, taking into consideration their BE degree certificates. 

The court allowed the petitions, and an appeal moved by the corporation was also dismissed. Aggrieved, the corporation moved the present review and pointed out that the court failed to notice that recognition/approval of AICTE for technical courses is mandatory and, in the present case, the BE degrees obtained by the employees admittedly were not approved by AICTE during the academic years in which they completed the degree. 

The employees opposed the plea and contended that no such approval is required for degrees obtained through deemed-to-be universities. The university, through communication, admitted the fact that it did not obtain any approval from AICTE to conduct a BE (Mechanical) engineering course from the academic year 2002 onwards till 2017. Recording the submissions, the bench held that, therefore, the degrees obtained by the employees cannot be construed as valid degrees in view of the authoritative pronouncement of the Supreme Court in the Odisha case, which deals with the issue, and allowed the review application

750 MP engg seats remained unfilled last yr, 66 colleges closed down

750 MP engg seats remained unfilled last yr, 66 colleges closed down 

Bhopal : 30.04.2026

In what points to a sorry state of affairs and a potential existential crisis for engineering education in Madhya Pradesh, as many as 750 seats remained unclaimed across the state in the last year alone while 66 engineering institutions closed down over the last ten years, official numbers with the technical education dept have revealed, reports Ramendra Singh . 

Marked by plummeting placements and waning interest in traditional engineering branches, colleges are being forced to surrender seats or shut down entirely, pointing to a shift toward employability over volume. As per the dept, 138 colleges offer 74,722 seats, a sharp decline from 200 colleges and 95,000 seats in 2015-16

JEE (Main) key row: NTA reviews chemistry errors flagged by students, urges them to wait

JEE (Main) key row: NTA reviews chemistry errors flagged by students, urges them to wait 

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com 13.04.2026

New Delhi : Allegations of errors in the JEE (Main) answer key have again put the spotlight on the National Testing Agency (NTA), with the testing body stepping in early to review complaints and pause challenge payments for a disputed paper. 

The agency said it has reviewed the provisional answer keys of JEE (Main) 2026 Session 2 and made them available online, while acknowledging concerns over the April 5, Shift 2 chemistry paper. 

“Reports regarding discrepancies...are under verification,” it said, advising candidates not to pay challenge fees until further clarification. The provisional key and response sheets were released on Saturday, with the challenge window open from April 11 to 13 at ₹200 per question. However, social media quickly saw a surge in complaints, with candidates and parents alleging “gross mistakes” and claiming multiple incorrect answers in chemistry. 

A widely shared post urged NTA to recheck the key, arguing that it was “practically impossible” for students to challenge a large number of questions while preparing for other exams. Faculty members also flagged concerns, with one Delhi-based govt college teacher writing to authorities citing “major error” and student distress. In one complaint shared with officials, a parent claimed at least 11 answers were incorrect, warning that such errors could impact high-performing candidates, including those scoring above 99 percentile in earlier sessions. 

Responding publicly, NTA director general Abhishek Singh said he would personally have the paper reviewed by experts. “Given the large number of comments... I will get it checked,” he posted, promising an update within a day. Answer key discrepancies have been a recurring issue for NTA in recent years, often leading to court cases, re-evaluations, and in some instances, bonus marks. Previous editions of JEE (Main) and other national tests have seen multiple questions dropped or revised after challenges, fuelling criticism over quality control. This time, however, the agency’s early acknowledgment marks a departure from its typically reactive approach, even as student anxiety remains high. 

‘RECHECK THE KEY’: Answer key discrepancies have been a recurring issue for NTA in recent years, often leading to court cases

CSE, ECE among top picks for management seats in TN this year

CSE, ECE among top picks for management seats in TN this year

Apr 10, 2026, 01.46 AM IST

Chennai: Computer science engineering, and electronics and communication engineering are among the top courses preferred by students and parents thronging colleges for management quota admissions this year. Many colleges said they have received more queries for core engineering branches as well.

Though the Class XII exam results are yet to be out, anxious parents are queuing up to book management quota seats after tough CBSE maths and physics exams this year. Colleges said the enquiries were up by around 20% compared to the previous year.

"There is a huge interest among students and parents for electronics and communication engineering (ECE) this year. It is the new trend. Besides computer science, core engineering courses like mechanical engineering are in good demand," said Abhay Meganathan, vice-chairman, Rajalakshmi Group of Institutions.

Some colleges offer counselling for parents and students, explaining different career options in all engineering courses.

"We have about 100 parents and students visiting our colleges every day.

Most of them prioritise computer science and AI. Counsellors brief them on different career options, including possible opportunities in courses such as ECE and mechanical engineering," said Sai Prakash Leo Muthu, CEO of Sri Sairam Engineering College.

The counsellors also cite examples of students placed in companies such as Volvo after studying ECE.

Some colleges attributed a heightened interest in engineering to the buzz around AI among students.

"At our college, we see 20% to 30% more queries for management quota admissions. There is more interest in engineering courses due to the buzz around AI and expectations of new jobs," said R M Kishore, vice-chairman of RMK Engineering College.

SRM Easwari Engineering College principal P Deivasundari said the college received enquiries from more than 40 countries for the NRI quota this year. "Civil and mechanical engineering courses also got many queries this year," she added.

No admission to SSN college of engineering from next year

No admission to SSN college of engineering from next year

 Ragu.Raman@timesofindia.com 16.12.2025

Chennai : Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar (SSN) College of Engineering in Chennai announced on Monday that it will not accept applications for admissions for the next academic year (2026-27). The college received approval for progressive closure from Anna University and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). The premier college will be merged with Shiv Nadar University Chennai, which is functioning on the adjacent campus, in a phased manner.

 “SSN College of Engineering is no longer accepting applications. Please apply for similar programmes to the SSN School of Engineering at Shiv Nadar University Chennai (SNUC),” an announcement on the college website said. It also released frequently asked questions (FAQs) to clarify the doubts of parents and students who are enrolled in the college. 

“As of now, the SSN College has more than 4,800 students, including UG, PG students, and research scholars. These students will receive their degrees from Anna University as the closure will be progressive. There will be no new admissions from 2026-27,” a source in the college said. 

Students aspiring for admissions to BTech and MTech programmes in the SSN School of Engineering under Shiv Nadar University Chennai will have to take an entrance test and interview. SSN College of Engineering is an autonomous college under Anna University and fills 65% of its seats through online counselling, which is based on Class XII marks in maths, chemistry, and physics. 

These students pay ₹55,000 as tuition fees for govt quota seats. The tuition fees for BTech programmes at Shiv Nadar University is ₹3.5 lakh. However, the university announced that the fee structure for current students at SSN College of Engineering will continue as per the prevailing norms applicable to their batch. 

Further, it also

said faculty members will continue teaching until all students complete their programmes. “The academic norms as per the prevailing Anna University regulations will continue to apply if a student has arrears or backlog after the last batch graduates,” the college further said.

UGC, AICTE, NCTE to be replaced: Cabinet clears India's biggest edu overhaul bill

UGC, AICTE, NCTE to be replaced: Cabinet clears India's biggest edu overhaul bill

The Union Cabinet has approved the HECI Bill, now renamed Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill, paving the way for a single higher education regulator to replace the UGC, AICTE, and NCTE. The new body will handle regulation, accreditation, and standards as proposed under NEP 2020, marking a major overhaul of India's higher education system.

The Union Cabinet has approved the HECI Bill, now renamed Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill/

India Today Education Desk

New Delhi,UPDATED: Dec 12, 2025 22:52 IST

Indian higher education is about to get its biggest structural makeover in decades. The Union Cabinet has cleared a landmark bill to set up a single higher education regulator that will replace the UGC, AICTE, and NCTE — bringing all non-medical and non-law higher education under one powerful umbrella.

The proposed law, earlier known as the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill, has now been renamed the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill.

Approved on Friday, the bill fulfils a core National Education Policy (NEP 2020) vision: streamlining a sector currently governed by multiple regulators with overlapping functions.

Under the new system, the Commission will take over regulation, accreditation, and setting professional standards across higher education. Medical and law colleges remain outside its scope. Interestingly, funding — considered the fourth pillar — will not fall under the new regulator for now and will remain with the administrative ministry.

Unless the government creates a separate Higher Education Funding Authority later (as once proposed in NEP drafts), the current arrangement will continue wherein the education ministry's Department of Higher Education will oversee funding.

For decades, India’s higher education ecosystem has been split across agencies:UGC regulates non-technical higher education. AICTE oversees technical education. NCTE manages teacher education

The NEP-2020 had called the regulatory system “in need of a complete overhaul”, stressing the need for distinct, empowered bodies handling distinct roles.

Efforts to create a single regulator began with the draft HECI Bill released in 2018, but momentum picked up again after Dharmendra Pradhan took charge as Education Minister in 2021. 

With Cabinet approval now in place, the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Commission moves a step closer to reshaping the future of Indian higher education.

AICTE draft on DSc degree to keep faculty active in research work

AICTE draft on DSc degree to keep faculty active in research work

Priyadarshini.Gupta@timesofindia.com 27.10.2025

A task force at AICTE has drafted a new regulatory framework to enhance the quality, rigour, and relevance of doctoral research. For the first time, the task force has proposed formal guidelines for awarding the Doctor of Science (DSc) degree to postdoctoral scholars, and the tenure consists of 1 to 3 years. 

DSc is an advanced academic distinction awarded to research scholars who have made outstanding, original, and sustained contributions to knowledge in respective fields, including Engineering, Applied Sciences, and other allied disciplines. DSc signifies a high level of expertise and is often awarded for a portfolio of high-impact published, peer-reviewed journal papers, patents, research books, book chapters, that demonstrate original and distinguished contributions. Until now, the DSc degree in India has largely been conferred in an unregulated manne
r, with individual universities setting their own criteria for awarding it.

Some institutions have treated it as an honorary recognition, often granted without rigorous evaluation, while others have had internal frameworks such as requiring 20 years of teaching experience, 50 published papers, books authored, and guiding several PhD scholars. The absence of a national standard has raised questions about the credibility of the DSc degree. 

A senior academician, on the condition of anonymity, says, “The lack of uniformity has led to disparities in the valuation of DSc. To address this, the AICTE task force recently proposed a set of formal guidelines. The need for this was felt due to two key reasons: to formally acknowledge the lifelong research achievements of senior faculty members who have continued to make scholarly contributions, and the introduction of the new academic position of ‘senior professor’, which demands substantial academic contributions in the form of patents, publications, and PhD guidance. 

The proposed framework will reward academic performance and create a structured path to keep the faculty engaged in advanced research, mentoring, and innovation.” The guidelines will act as a catalyst to strengthen research work in institutions. The academician says, “Universities aspiring to award DSc degrees will be compelled to invest in research infrastructure, modern laboratories, libraries, digital repositories, and funding support, to meet these benchmarks.

While there may initially be a gap between well-funded and smaller institutions, the introduction of a structured DSc framework is expected to gradually narrow this divide by motivating all institutions to strengthen their research infrastructure.” However, a few academics feel that the success of the reform will depend largely on its consistent and fair implementation. 

Prof PV Navaneethakrishnan, former director of entrance exams and admissions, Anna University, Chennai, says, “Several Indian institutions treat research programmes as anecessity to stay relevant and perform well in rankings such as NIRF. However, this pressure to maintain rankings has sometimes led to unethical practices, which in turn lowers the quality of research. Simply announcing new regulations will not make a difference.” Highlighting existing accountability gaps within the system, he adds that the new norms will need to be enforced properly so that instances of malpractices are curbed.

AICTE proposed PhD framework focusing on responsible AI usage to boost research integrity

AICTE proposed PhD framework focusing on responsible AI usage to boost research integrity 

New guidelines will allow retired professors to supervise scholars, which can help retain valuable expertise 

Priyadarshini.Gupta@timesofindia.com 29.09.2025

To strengthen PhD regulations in technical education, the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) task force has drafted a new regulatory framework that enhances the quality, rigour, and relevance of doctoral research, including the mandatory AI disclaimer from researchers. The proposed guidelines reintroduce mandatory publication requirements, set authorship rules, allow retired professors to guide students, and impose stricter quality standards for dissertations. The taskforce, under the chairmanship of KR Venugopal, former vicechancellor, Bangalore University, has been approved by the AICTE Executive Council and is now with the Ministry of Education for final clearance. 

Authorship Concern 

Since the AICTE had relied on the University Grants Commission (UGC)’s PhD regulations till now, the proposed regulations will boost the research ecosystem. Prof Venugopal says, “There are persisting gaps in the current system that have weakened the quality and credibility of research. One of the major issues was the removal of the mandatory publication requirement in 2022, which had earlier existed in the 2016 regulations. Without this, many research scholars began completing their degrees without publishing any substantial work, making it difficult to evaluate their research. The new framework will reintroduce mandatory publication, not only to ensure that students contribute to peer-reviewed journals but also to provide them with recognition, which is crucial for their career prospects and academic validation. In the absence of these norms, there were instances when supervisors claimed first authorship even when the bulk of the work was done by students. Besides, the guides misused the work of their mentee for their own benefit.”

A prominent challenge in the existing system is overburdened faculty members, especially in private colleges, where professors have to handle administrative responsibilities such as admissions, grading, filling forms, and managing inspections, in addition to teaching multiple subjects. Drawing comparisons with practices in Western countries, Prof Venugopal says that retirement should not restrict professors from guiding new researchers. “The faculty find little time or energy to meaningfully guide research students. To address this, the new framework suggests that retired professors and experienced academics be allowed to continue guiding PhD students, ensuring that valuable expertise is not lost after retirement and that faculty who are less burdened can provide stronger mentorship,” he adds. Beyond publication and supervision, there are often problems with the quality of theses and dissertations. Prof Venugopal says, “Many submissions are poorly written, lacking in proper formatting, citations, and references, which undermines the academic value of the work. The new guidelines set clearer standards and guide students on how dissertations should be structured, including aspects such as font size, referencing styles, bibliography formats, and overall presentation. This is intended to improve the professionalism and readability of doctoral work, while also training students in essential academic writing skills that are often missing.” The new guidelines have also proposed a measure to reward merit and efficiency by allowing high-achieving students to submit their theses after two-and-a-half years instead of waiting for the standard three years, provided they have published quality research papers in recognised journals, including Scopus-indexed Q1 journals. Institutional delays have been a persistent problem, with registration processes of students often taking two to three months. “While many institutions have separate research departments and councils on paper, in practice, they do not function effectively. Research is not being taken seriously. The framework calls for a dedicated research department in institutions, strict timelines, and effective monitoring,” he says. 

There are several cases of exploitation by the guide. Prof Venugopal says, “It is found that guides sometimes exploit students, delaying approvals, or demanding undue favours. Furthermore, mandatory progress reviews are often skipped. Beyond procedural issues, institutions lack adequate infrastructure such as wellequipped laboratories for experimental research.” 

Plagiarism Check 

Meanwhile, while AI use is allowed for research work, it should account for less than 20% of the overall thesis and be properly cited, similar to plagiarism disclaimers. HEIs must have a mechanism using well-developed software applications to detect plagiarism/ AI-generated content in research work. V Rajendran, VC, AMET University, Chennai, says, “The framework also opens doors for industry professionals. For instance, BTech graduates with three to five years of work experience and a strong academic record (minimum CGPA of 7.0–7.5) can directly register for a PhD without a postgraduate degree. Students will be allowed to pursue translational research, regardless of their basic degree, thereby encouraging collaboration between fields such as engineering, science, literature, and medicine.” Formalising DSc Degree For the first time, AICTE has also formalised the Doctor of Science (DSc) degree. Until now, no standardised guidelines existed in India. 

The new framework requires candidates to demonstrate substantial post-PhD research output such as publishing at least 50 papers with a combined impact factor of 100 writing books or filing patents. They must also have guided aminimum number of PhD scholars. Unlike the honorary degrees often granted through influence, the DSc aims to genuinely reward senior academicians and industry experts for their contributions. Even professionals from industry without a PhD, but with significant experience, can qualify

SSN college to be merged with Shiv Nadar univ Closure After NOC from State Govt

SSN college to be merged with Shiv Nadar univ Closure After NOC from State Govt

 Ragu.Raman@timesofindia.com 19.09.2025

Chennai : Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar (SSN) College of Engineering in Chennai, one of the top engineering colleges in the state, has applied for progressive closure from the next academic year (2026-27). The premier college will be merged with Shiv Nadar University Chennai, which is functioning on the adjacent campus, in a phased manner. Shiv Nadar University Chennai will conduct admissions to B Tech and M Tech programmes from the next academic year. 

Students aspiring to join the institution will need to take an entrance exam and clear an interview to gain admission. As of now, SSN College of Engineering is an autonomous college under Anna University and fills 65% of its seats through online counselling, which is based on Class XII marks in mathematics, chemistry, and physics. These students pay ₹55,000 as tuition fees for govt quota seats. 

“During the 2025-26 academic year, the college enrolled around 900 students in the first year. These students will graduate from Anna University after studying for the next four years,” a source from Anna University said. 

SSN College of Engineering was established by Shiv Nadar, founder and chairman emeritus of HCL Technologies in 1996. It rose to prominence with state-ofthe-art facilities on its 230acre campus on the Old Mamallapuram Road in Kalavakkam. It is also known to offer quality engineering education, and placing more than 95% of its students in top companies during campus placements. Officials from Anna University confirmed to TOI that the university received the application for progressive closure from SSN College of Engineering from next academic year. 

“The university will give permission for closure after getting a no-objection certificate from the state govt,” an official said. Shiv Nadar University Chennai, which started four years ago, offers courses in engineering, economics, and other disciplines. “We wanted to merge Shiv Nadar University and SSN College of Engineering to have one worldclass institution offering multidisciplinary programmes,” a spokesperson for SSN Institutions said. “This college will be called SSN School of Engineering under Shiv Nadar University. 

The mode of admissions will change, and the admission process and fee structure will be in line with Shiv Nadar University,” the spokesperson added. The tuition fees for BTech programmes at Shiv Nadar University is ₹3.5 lakh.

Curriculum enhancement and career stability drive renewed interest in core engg streams

Curriculum enhancement and career stability drive renewed interest in core engg streams 

Students are picking Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, cementing it with competencies in AI, Data Science 

Priyadarshini.Gupta@timesofindia.com 21.07.2025

After years of low enrolments and reduced interest among students, core engineering branches such as Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, and Chemical Engineering are witnessing a slow but steady resurgence. These traditional fields, in the past few years, had been overshadowed by the growing demand for Computer Science Engineering (CSE), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Data Science. However, now the renewed interest is being driven by factors such as government development missions, reforms by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and a growing awareness among students about long-term career stability. 

While Computer Science and allied streams remain the sought-after choices, the idea that core branches are fading is changing. AICTE data reveals a steady uptick in enrolments across multiple core streams over the last three academic years. UG enrolment in Electrical Engineering grew by 47.6%, rising from 23,193 in 2020-21 to 34,230 in 2023-24, despite a slight reduction in total intake capacity. Mechanical Engineering, which had declined during the pandemic to 82,717 enrolments, rebounded to 98,702 in 2023-24. 

Even at the diploma level, the discipline saw a consistent rise from 1.17 lakh to nearly 1.3 lakh over the same period. Civil Engineering, often considered the backbone of infrastructure development, enrolled 75,740 UG students in 2023-24, up from 72,460 in 2020-21, with cumulative UG enrolments exceeding 3.93 lakh across five years. The diploma segment in Civil Engineering also recorded over 88,000 enrolments in the latest academic year. Meanwhile, Chemical Engineering saw a 15% increase in UG enrolments and a 22.98% jump at the diploma level — from 5,018 in 2020-21 to 6,173 in 2023-24. Sectors including real estate, energy, manufacturing, transportation, and defence are actively hiring talent from these domains, offering ample opportunities not only in India but globally. 

National missions such as PM Gati Shakti, Smart Cities, Make in India, Bharatmala, and the Green Hydrogen Mission have pushed demand for engineers with strong core knowledge. Additionally, the blending of core engineering disciplines with emerging technologies such as AI and Robotics has created interdisciplinary opportunities for students. Attractive Scholarships The growing traction is also a result of academic reforms by AICTE. Prof TG Sitharam, chairman, AICTE, says, “The council has rolled out a series of initiatives to revitalise interest in core disciplines. These include curriculum reforms aligned with Industry 4.0, the establishment of Innovation, Design and Entrepreneurship Academies (IDEA Labs) to promote hands-on learning, and enhanced internship access through national platforms. YASHASVI (Young Achievers Scholarship and Holistic Academic Support for Vibrant India) Scholarship Scheme has also proved beneficial, which provides 5,200 annual scholarships to first-year entrants in AICTE-approved core engineering programmes — 2,593 scholarships at Rs 50,000 per annum for UG students, and 2,607 scholarships at Rs 30,000 per annum for diploma students.” 

The job market for core engineering graduates presents a mixed picture. Prof Praveen Kumar, former HoD, Civil Engineering, IIT Roorkee, says, “While public sector roles in Central Public Works Department, Railways, ONGC, and BPCL continue to offer stable jobs with salaries touching Rs 1 lakh/month, they are extremely limited. Only about 5% of graduates make it into such positions, while the rest often end up in private sector jobs, mostly under contractors, with long hours and a modest pay.” Traditional branches are seeing rising interest, though there are still some challenges. Prof Anil Singh Parihar, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, DTU, says, “No industry can grow without mechanical or civil engineers; however, the salary gap is massive. 

CSE graduates get offers of Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1 crore, while core engineers often settle for Rs 12-Rs 13 lakh per annum as starting salary. This disparity discourages many students.” Despite this, institutions are reporting full occupancy in core branches, and students are increasingly taking minors in CSE, AI, or Data Science alongside their core degree. “This hybrid approach is opening new interdisciplinary avenues in smart manufacturing, materials science, and supply chain analytics,” he adds.

AU issues notices over deficiencies 141 Engg Colleges Pulled Up

AU issues notices over deficiencies 141 Engg Colleges Pulled Up

Ragu.Raman@timesofindia.com14.07.2025

 

Chennai : Anna University issued notices to 141 engineering colleges on Saturday over deficiencies in faculty and lab facilities following the physical inspection of 450 engineering colleges. 

Among them, 10 colleges with severe deficiencies were also served show cause notices. These ten colleges could face action, including the disaffiliation of courses, if they do not have the required facilities and faculty members. 

In a circular to the engineering colleges, Anna University asked the colleges to rectify the shortcomings and upload the details on or before July 18. The online general engineering counselling is scheduled to begin on Monday. The university conducted physical inspections of 450 engineering colleges in May for the academic year 2025-26. It found discrepancies in faculty, labs, and classrooms in most of the colleges. It gave time to colleges to file compliance reports after rectifying the discrepancies. 

“The university has clearly specified whether a college has a deficiency in UG programmes or PG programmes. There will be another round of physical inspection of these colleges to ensure that they have fulfilled the required norms,” a source from Anna University said. 

Following the fake faculty row last year, Anna University introduced various measures, including Aadhar-based authentication for faculty members and video recording of the inspection process, and inspected the programmes which got permanent affiliation as well. “Anna University is planning to bring online biometric attendance for all faculty members to verify whether the faculty members continue to work in the colleges. It would completely rule out the fake faculty members,” the source added. Professors said there is a shortage of faculty members in emerging areas such as AI and data science programmes. “AICTE has allowed up to 20% of faculty members from the industry to teach courses in emerging areas. It would help to resolve the faculty shortage in computer-related programmes,” professors said. 

There is also issue of qualification of science and humanity faculty members. The university found that many faculty did not have required NET, SET qualification. "Colleges can also appoint retired faculty members from govt colleges to teach science and humanities subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, and English to engineering students,” a senior professor from the university said. The university also made it mandatory for all engineering colleges to upload the disclosure to the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) on their web portal, to inform students and parents about the facilities available in the college.

Engg counselling: 17 colleges less, but 10K more govt quota seats

Engg counselling: 17 colleges less, but 10K more govt quota seats 

FROM TODAY

Ragu.Raman@timesofindia.com 

Chennai : The six-week-long engineering counselling for BE, BTech admissions will begin with the special category counselling on Monday. This year, 1,90,166 seats are available in 417 engineering colleges for govt quota. While the number of colleges has decreased from 434 to 417, the number of seats available for govt quota increased by 10,216 as many colleges have increased their intake in computer-related branches compared to last year. Private colleges have to surrender 65% of total seats to govt quota and the admissions to those seats will be conducted through counselling. This year, 2,41,641 students, including 1,09,055 girls, will take part in the counselling, which is 20% more compared to last year. Going by the trend in management quota admissions, colleges expect more admissions in electronics and communication engineering (ECE), electrical and electronics engineering (EEE), and mechanical engineering courses. However, computer science engineering (CSE) and IT are likely to be the top preferred courses this year as well. “In general, students are interested in CSE, ECE, and AI and data science courses. We may see a shift in preference towards core engineering courses such as mechanical engineering and EEE,” said career consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi. “After CSE, ECE is the most preferred course this year as students think it gives wider career options,” career consultant Ashwin R said. ECE students have multiple career paths such as IT companies, automobile companies, and govt jobs. In the engineering rank list, 144 students scored 200 out of 200 marks. As many as 13,958 students scored above 190 marks, which is a significant jump from 8,830 students last year. Due to this, experts predict an increase of four marks in cut-off. They advised students to give wider choices, including more courses and colleges, for a better chance of seat allotment in the online counselling. As many as 473 disabled students featured in the rank list. This year, 47,372 students from govt schools are eligible for 7.5% special reservation. The general counselling will be held from July 14 to Aug 19.

Computer Science Engineering emerges as most-preferred stream among TNEA toppers

Computer Science Engineering emerges as most-preferred stream among TNEA toppers

Exploring options: Some of the students are also considering taking up veterinary sciences and artificial intelligence. 

28.06.2025

While most of them prefer to study at Anna University, a few are in a dilemma over which stream or institution to choose. Dharani V. of Cuddalore, Mythili P. of Chennai secured the first and second ranks respectively in the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions merit list for govt. school students SAPTARSHI BHATTACHARYA CHENNAI Computer Science Engineering has emerged as the most-preferred stream of choice for most of the toppers at the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) 2025.

While most of them preferred to study at Anna University, a few are in a dilemma over which stream or institution to choose.

Mythili P., a student of Government Higher Secondary School in Anakaputhur, Chennai, secured the second rank in the TNEA merit list for government school students (7.5% reservation). She told The Hindu that her choice was Computer Science as she had developed deep interest in software development, coding and programming language. Having lost her father to an accident a decade ago, Mythili was brought up by her mother, who runs a roadside tender coconut stall. She wishes to study well and land a good job after completing her degree.

S. Pachaiyammal’s story is not much different. Her father developed neurological complications soon after her birth and lost his ability to work. He also suffered partial speech impairment. Her mother, a tailor, brought her up along with her siblings. “Earlier, my father was a milk vendor in our village. After he developed the disorder, he could barely move,” Pachaiyammal said.

A student of Government Model School in Thiruvannamalai, she secured fifth rank in the TNEA merit list for government school students. However, she now faces a dilemma after receiving a call from Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), offering her full scholarship to study the subject of her choice. She is torn between VIT and Anna University. Like Mythili, Pachaiyammal too wants to pursue Computer Science Engineering, since it offers good placement opportunities. “I will have to work for a few years before I could decide to pursue higher studies,” she says. Pachaiyammal has pursued sports, too, winning medals at zonal and district levels in Kho Kho and having represented her district in State-level competitions.

Dharani V., a student of Government Higher Secondary School in Kandamangalam, Cuddalore, who topped the merit list for government school students, too, excelled in sports. She has won laurels in triple jump, 200 metres sprint, and relay at zonal-level competitions. She, however, is torn between Veterinary Sciences and Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. Her father is a mason.

Vetrivel S., a classmate of Pachaiyammal, secured fourth rank in the merit list. His wish to pursue Computer Science Engineering at Anna University has been largely influenced by his mathematics teacher. “Sir said I could either land a good job or write GATE to get into IIT for masters. We will decide later,” he added. His father is a construction worker and his mother grew crops on a farm.

Similarly, Karthika S. of Kongunadu Matric Higher Secondary School in Namakkal, and Amalan Anto M. of Gokilambal Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Ariyalur — who secured second and third ranks in the TNEA general category merit list — said they would like to pursue Computer Science Engineering at Anna University.

Only Sagasra J. of MLM Mamallan Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Kancheepuram, who topped the general merit list, said she would like to pursue Electronics and Communication Engineering at College of Engineering, Guindy.

Tamil Nadu universities to take up paid consultancy work for industry

Tamil Nadu universities to take up paid consultancy work for industry

According to higher education department officials, a blueprint of the training programme is being chalked out.

State universities like Anna University, University of Madras, and Bharathiar University have been doing commendable research work, but they often keep their research to themselves.File photo | Express

Binita Jaiswal

Updated on:

19 May 2025, 8:05 am

CHENNAI: Worried over the poor financial condition of state universities, the higher education department has mooted an idea to make them self-sufficient – start a training programme for faculty members of state universities through which they can provide consultancy work to industries and generate revenue.

Taking a cue from institutions like IIT Madras, which works closely with industries, generating revenue through consultancy work, the state government has decided to guide and supervise state universities to work on similar lines.

According to higher education department officials, a blueprint of the training programme is being chalked out. The Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education (TANSCHE) will be conducting the training programme for the faculty with the help of experts from the industry and academia.

Officials said most departments in state universities like Anna University, University of Madras, and Bharathiar University have been doing commendable research work and have varied expertise, but they often keep their research to themselves.

“We need to train them on taking up consultancy work for industries so that their dependency on the state government for funds reduces. The universities should realise that nowadays it’s not just about teaching, they need to provide exposure to students by taking up industry projects in changing times,” said a senior higher education official.

To effectively train state universities in attracting more consultancy work, officials said the faculty will be taught techniques to enhance communication skills, and establish strong relationships with potential clients. “Additionally, universities should establish centres of excellence and leverage their existing research capabilities to offer specialised consulting services,” said a higher education department official.

A TANSCHE official said they will be starting the training in phases for state universities very soon. Currently, they are focussing on training the faculty on outcome-based education models and pedagogy.

92% of Sathyabama students get job offers 07.04.2025

92% of Sathyabama students get job offers  07.04.2025

Chennai : Students from Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology have received 3,120 job offers from 300 companies so far this year. “Of the total students registered for placements, 92% of them were placed. The average pay package is ₹5.45 lakh a year,” the institute said in a release. It also stated that the industryaligned curriculum and placement readiness programmes were the main reasons for more campus placements. 

It said top companies, such as, Amazon, Accenture, Bank of America, BNP Paribas, Capgemini, JP Morgan, Hyundai Motors, IBM, Nokia, and Oracle, visited the university this year. And, it reported that 216 final-year students enrolled in top national and international universities across the globe for master’s degrees. Students received scholarships from international universities in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, the US, and the UK. The institute commemorated ‘Excellence Day 2025’ at its campus on Saturday. Deemed university chancellor Mariazeena Johnson and its president Marie Johnson lauded students for their achievements.

Bar colleges with fake faculty: NGO

Bar colleges with fake faculty: NGO 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 04.04.2025

Chennai : Arappor Iyakkam, an anti-corruption NGO, has urged the Tamil Nadu govt to debar engineering colleges found to be involved in showing fake faculty members from taking part in upcoming engineering counselling. Anna University is to conduct reinspection for 2024-25 and physical inspection of all engineering colleges and courses for granting affiliation for the next academic year (2025-26) from thelast week of March. “Aadhaar-based face authentication will be used and the varsity will videograph the inspection to rule out duplication of faculty members. However, it should also check for salary statements, PF, and ESI details to ensure the faculty was employed in the college,” said Radhakrishnan M from the NGO. 

He also sought removal of sub-standard colleges from participating in counselling. The NGO found that 353 people worked in multiple engineering colleges du-ring the 2023-24 academic year. Following this, the varsity’sinternal probe found 2,000 faculty positions were shown with fake faculty members by engineering colleges for 2024-25. “The higher education department set up a fact-finding committee following the expose. The committee was given one week’s time. Despite the lapse of eight months, there has been no announcement on the progress of the inquiry or action taken against the colleges,” the NGO said in arepresentation to chief minister M K Stalin and higher education minister Govi Chezhiaan. The university found the involvement of around 1,000 faculty members and around 30 engineering colleges involved in the duplication of identity. “The university can take action against the colleges which have shown fake faculty members for the 2023-24 academic year. For other colleges, the action can be taken after the physical inspection,” Radhakrishnan said.

Can Assistant Professors In Engineering Colleges Be Re-designated As Associate Professors Without PhD? Supreme Court Clarifies

Can Assistant Professors In Engineering Colleges Be Re-designated As Associate Professors Without PhD? Supreme Court Clarifies

Gursimran Kaur Bakshi

1 Apr 2025 9:23 PM

The Supreme Court held that Assistant Professors in Engineering institutes(appointed after March 15, 2000), who did not have Ph.D qualification at the time of appointment or failed to acquire Ph.D within seven years of their appointment, cannot claim re-designation as Associate Professors in terms of the 2010 notification issued by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

At the same time, the Court also held that teachers who were appointed in various Engineering institutes prior to March 15, 2000, when PhD was not an essential requirement for the post of Assistant Professor, will receive the benefit and redesignation to the post of Associate Professor as per 6th Pay Commission.

"As far as such teachers are concerned who were appointed prior to 15.03.2000, we do not see any reason to disturb the findings of the High Court regarding their entitlements under the 6th Pay Commission, etc...The appellant shall release the higher pay scale to those respondents who are appointed prior to 15.03.2000 with an interest of 7.5% per annum on the arrears within a period of four weeks from today failing which the interest shall be calculated at the rate of 15% per annum," a bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and K Vinod Chandran held.

For the other remaining five Respondent-teachers who were appointed after this date when Ph.D became an essential requirement for the post of Assistant Professor, and they claimed the benefit of re-designation to Associate Professor in terms of higher pay scale but failed to acquire it within 7 years of appointment, relief was not granted.

"Under the circumstances, and in terms of what we have held above, the respondents who were appointed after 15.03.2000, who were non-Ph.D. and had also failed to acquire the same within seven years of appointment as was required, cannot be given the benefit of 2010 notification inasmuch as they cannot be given a higher pay scale or re-designated as an Associate Professor.

The phrase 'incumbent Assistant Professor' in the 2010 notification, to our mind, would only include such Assistant Professors working on the post who had a Ph.D. qualification at the time of their appointment or who though did not have a Ph.D. qualification at the time of their appointment but subsequently in terms of the notification dated 15.03.2000 read with subsequent notification dated 28.11.2005 acquired Ph.D. within seven years of their appointment or those appointed prior to 15.03.2000; when Ph.D. was not an essential qualification, continued uninterruptedly."

The Court added that as and when these teachers acquire a Ph.D, they would be at liberty to move an application before their respective institutes for higher pay and redesignation.

In this case, the Respondent-teachers, who possess a Master's degree, were appointed as Assistant Professors by the Appellant in the institutes between 1995 and 2009. Subsequent to the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE's) notification, the requirement for the post of Assistant Professor was Ph.D as per 5th Pay Commission.

All Respondents entered into an agreement to comply with the AICTE's notification for Ph.D to avail the benefits of the 5th pay revision. In 2005, AICTE again issued a notification stating that the Phd must be completed within 7 years from the date of appointment.

In 2010, the AICTE re-designated the posts in terms of the 6th Pay Commission, requiring that Assistant Professors who have completed 4 years of service in the pre-revised pay scale of pay scale of Rs.12000-18300 on January 1, 2006 shall be re-designated as Associate Professors. The Respondent teachers claimed the benefit of it, but they were denied on grounds that they did not possess a Ph.D degree, which was a mandatory requirement to be an Assistant Professor.

This was challenged before the Bombay High Court, which, relying on the decision of a coordinate bench, allowed the plea and the Respondent teachers were to be re-designated as Associate Professors and be given a higher pay scale as per the 6th Pay Commission. Subsequently, a review petition was filed, which also came to be dismissed. Both these orders were challenged before the Supreme Court.

Case Details: THE SECRETARY ALL INDIA SHRI SHIVAJI MEMORIAL SOCIETY (AISSMS) AND ORS. v. THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ORS|SLP(C) No. 7058-7061/2019

Citation : 2025 LiveLaw (SC) 373

Senior Advocate Ravindra Shrivastava, assisted by Arjun Garg AOR appeared for the petitioner.

13 UG students suspended in Kovai for attacking PG student

13 UG students suspended in Kovai for attacking PG student

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 24.03.2025

Coimbatore : Thirteen first year undergraduate students of a private college here were suspended for assaulting a post graduate student in the college hostel on Saturday. The 13 students studying BE and B Tech at Nehru institute of technology near Thirumalayampalayam alleged the victim Haathi, a postgraduate student from Chennai studying second year M A Criminology in Nehru college of arts and science had stolen money from their hostel room. 

A video of the assault went viral on social media on Sunday. Preliminary inquiry revealed a group of BE and B Tech students brought Haathi to their hostel room, locked him up there and assaulted him. One of them also recorded the attack on video. The senior student was injured in the assault. According to deputy chief warden of the hostel Maheshwaran, the incident took place on March 20 night. The victim was held in the room throughout the night and was beaten. The harassment continued the following day as well, the internal investigation revealed. After being let out on March 21, he informed his parents, who visited the college hostel on March 22 and took him home. 

As the management got wind of the incident, an in- quiry was conducted and principal M Sivaraja suspended the 13 students. The injured student and the suspended students have been asked to appear before the college administration on Monday for further inquiry. After the internal investigation, the college management reported the incident to the police. The Madukkarai police have also begun a probe. Police said once the victim lodges a formal complaint, a case will be registered.

Fake faculty row: Anna univ to inspect all 440 colleges

Fake faculty row: Anna univ to inspect all 440 colleges 

Before Nod For Affiliation This Academic Year

Ragu.Raman@timesofindia.com 24.02.2025

Chennai : In the wake of last year’s fake faculty row, Anna University has decided to inspect all 440 engineering colleges in the state for granting affiliation for 2025-26. During the check, it will look into the permanently affiliated courses to rule out any malpractices. It will check various parameters including qualifications of the principal, faculty members, library, classrooms, labs, and admissions. Last year, top colleges were exempted from physical inspection. 

In a recent circular, the university asked colleges to submit biometric details of faculty members after authenticating them with Aadhaar through the Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency and Unique Identification Authority of India. It also asked them to verify all certificates, including PAN and Aadhaar details, with originals. College chairpersons or secretaries of trusts were directed to submit an affidavit stating that all details submitted are true. It also mandated AICTE Faculty ID for all members. “Faculty qualifications, experience, scale of pay, and cadre ratio should be strictly followed as per AICTE norms to grant affiliation,” the circular from registrar J Prakash said. “Those pro grammes which have not fulfilled the stipulated affiliation requirements will be suspended or withdrawn without any further notice.” For the first time, the university sought details of all permanently affiliated courses to verify them.

“Anna University used to give permanent affiliation to courses if the college is offering the course for 10 years with better admission record and no prior punishment. However, it was found that some colleges misused the permanent affiliation and showed them as faculty members in other departments. So, it was decided to verify these courses also,” a source said. The last date for submission of applications for affiliation with a late fee for 2025-26 is Feb 28. AICTE Approval Process Handbook for 2025-26 allowed institutions to appoint up to 20% of faculty as Professors of Practice (PoP) — industry professionals with varying qualifications, including PhDs or BTech with significant industry experience. The university is yet to act against 2,500 faculty members found faking identities and working in multiple colleges at the same time. Some 30 colleges were involved. “There is a court case regarding POP qualifications. University is yet to action against the faculty members and colleges. Then only the physical inspection for 2025-26 will commence,” a source added.

VTU directs colleges to refund students’ fees

VTU directs colleges to refund students’ fees 

SruthySusan.Ullas@timesofindia.com 15.02.2025

Bengaluru : Following complaints about refund of fees to students in case of withdrawal of admissions, Visvesvaraya Technological University warned of action if colleges do not follow the directions of apex bodies on this matter. In a circular dated Feb 11, the university said it received many petitions and requests regarding refund of fees to students in case of withdrawal or cancellation of admissions.

 “The university had advised/instructed colleges to follow the norms of apex bodies. Despite that, the university is receiving such complaints. Hence, once again, it is hereby informed to heads of institutions to follow the directions of UGC, AICTE and VTU in this regard, failing which the university will be forced to initiate action against the college and will also report to AICTE, UGC and the state govt,” said the circular. As per UGC regulations for 2024-25, full refund of fees should be made in case of cancellation of admissions/migrations of students up to Sept 30, 2024, and with a deduction of not more than Rs 1,000 as processing fee up to Oct 31, 2024. For any admission schedule extending this date, the rules will be as follows: Students will get 100% if cancellation is 15 days or more before the formally notified last date of admission; students should get 90% for withdrawing less than 15 days before notified last date of admission; 80% for 15 days or less after last date of admission; 50% for 30 days or less, but mo re than 15 days after last date of admission, and no refund if cancellation is more than 30 days after formally notified last date of admission. “Students often struggle to get refund from colleges.

Not only do colleges not refund, but they also threaten to not return the original certificates. Some of them go to the extent of asking for full course fees,” said Mithesh Kumar Moodukonaje, founder of National Pre-University Students,  Parents and Teachers Association. “Students can email their complaint to UGC fee samadhan portal along with fees paid receipt, admission cancellation intimation, etc., marking the email ID of the college too,” he said