New eligibility criteria : The new norms, said AICTE chairperson Anil Sahasrabudhe, were futuristic and in keeping with the National Education Policy-2020 guidelines.
Physics, Chemistry and Math would remain as important subjects in the engineering courses, but students would also have the option to study biotechnology, textile or agriculture engineering through bridge courses it was stated earlier.
Later, the AICTE website carried the ticker: “It is to inform all concerned that APH 2021-22 has been withdrawn for a short period and to be placed again on the AICTE website within a day or two”.
By night, the announcement stated: “It is to inform all concerned that APH 2021-22 has been withdrawn for typographical corrections and it will be placed again on the AICTE website within a day or two.”
AICTE’s new norms had drawn mixed reactions from academicians. While some said that Mathematics is very critical to engineering, others stated that keeping class XII-level Math and Physics optional for engineering admissions is a good move as it provides more flexible options to the students who may not have opted for these subjects in their class XII but still wanted to pursue their chosen fields.