New Delhi: A single entrance test has been proposed for admission into all degree courses. However, it is a great challenge, considering the enormous diversity of education systems in the country. The original idea behind the principle of having such a single entrance test system is influenced by the principle of inclusion for collaborative excellence rather than exclusion through competitive excellence.
The challenge turns out to be alarming, considering the fact that some higher education systems in the country are under control of Central Government, while others are either controlled by state governments or owned by private bodies. Besides, convincing the state owned and controlled and privately owned institutions is ruled out in view of federal nature of polity and due to the fact that education is in the Concurrent List of the Constitution.
Therefore, it is impossible to authorize the states and colleges to adopt such a uniform system and states need lot of persuasion. Similar situation prevails in universities also since they are autonomous bodies and admissions are presently governed by the statutes and ordinances of the respective universities.
Sources have informed that this information was given by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development (HRD) D. Purandeswari, in a written reply to a question, in the Rajya Sabha on Friday i.e. on August 19, 2011.
