IIT Opposition to "One Nation One Test" is elitist

The Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD),  Government of India, has announced the decision to merge IIT Joint Entrance Exam (IIT-JEE) with the All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) from 2013. The 'one nation, one test' proposal was a unanimous decision of the IIT Council taken in accordance with the IIT Act passed by the Indian Parliament, nearly six decades ago. Some IIT Senates and the Alumni Groups are opposing it. The opposition is unjustified and smacks of elitism. 

It is not understood how it will result in the reduction  of standard of the entrance examination, when the test papers are to be set by the IIT faculty, as done in current IIT-JEE. The consideration for 50% marks obtained in the Board Examination should not bother IITians as major difference will come from the marks obtained in the Advanced Paper (set by IIT faculty) and the results are declared in terms of percentile score.

The One Nation One Test policy will have the following long-term beneficial impacts

(a) It will lead to the improvement in the standard of syllabi and the teaching in higher secondary schools, across the country.

(b) The burden on the students of appearing for multiple tests and the administrative expenses will be reduced.

The HRD Minister must be congratulated for pursuing the progressive policy.

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Test that will put all engineers at par

The thought came in my mind after reading a news report. It is reported that the Medical Council of India (MCI) has proposed common test that could be taken by any medical graduate (MBBS) in the country as an additional qualification. The test aims at putting all doctors at par, whether from AIIMS or otherwise.

An excellent idea indeed!! With plethora of medical colleges offering degree  on the one hand and large number of cases of wrong diagnosis and bad treatment at the hand of doctors, on the other, make common man sceptic about the competence of medical practitioners. Such a common test conducted at All India level shall, to some extent, put such doubts at rest. 

It may be mentioned that an almost parallel situation exists in the engineering profession. The graduates from IITs and other reputed institutions think they are better engineers than the ones coming from relatively less known colleges. The serious aspect is that affects the job prospects of engineers. An additional qualification, on the lines similar to what has been advocated by the MCI, shall help bring all the engineers at at par. That will end discrimination on the basis of the institution.

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