The HRD ministry is considering allotting extra or supernumerary seats to women candidates from the next year as there is a huge concern over the alarming dip in the number of women taking admission in National Institutes of Technology (NIT’s). Along the lines of IITs, the ministry is planning to introduce this proposal from next year.
Reportedly, only 13% women took admission in the NIT’s this year as compared to 22% last year. The sharp dip in admissions could be due to the Centre’s decision of not considering 40% weightage to class 12 marks for determining the JEE rankings. The JEE rankings are pivotal for admission in BTech courses in institutions like NITs.
NIT directors have reportedly raised this issue with the ministry, asking for a decision regarding this proposal.
Not allotting 40% weightage to class 12 marks puts the female candidates at a disadvantage who have performed better than their male counterparts.
According to a daily newspaper, HT, an HRD official said that not considering class 12 marks “could have impacted their (female students’) ranks and the overall admission (number)”. “The issue is being looked into,” the official said.
Reportedly, if the seats are increased for women candidates, it will not affect seats for the male candidates.
Out of the total 31 NITs in the country, 17,000 students can be allotted admission every year. Only 3,900 female students took admission in NITs last year that further dipped this year and only 2,500 female students secured an admission in the prestigious institution.
To encourage more female admissions in the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT’s), 20% extra seats were introduced this year.
The NITs taking such a step is not new and should be able to encourage female admissions and avoid further decline in the number of female candidates securing admission.