GoI exempts A

Port Blair, Mar 14(UNI) The Centre has decided to exempt the students of Andaman and Nicobar Islands from appearing in the All India Engineering Entrance Examination(AIEEE) 2007 and 2008 for getting admission in the Engineering colleges against reserved seats.

This was stated in a communication received from the Human Resource Development Ministry, New Delhi.

The Ministry, however, suggested to the Union Territory Administration to initiate timely action so that the prospective candidates can participate in the AIEE Examination during the academic year 2009-10.

''The exemption in this regard for the aspiring students of these islands has been possible due to constant persuasive measures taken by Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Lt Gen(Retd) Bhopinder Singh with the Union Human Resource Development Minister, following requests from various quarters, including the Member of Parliament from the islands, other political parties etc,'' Officer In-charge of Andaman's Information and Publicity Department V K Mishra informed reporters in Andaman today.

The GoI's decision in regard to exemption would provide the aspiring students as well as their parents a sigh of relief who otherwise were in a state of great anxiety due to Tsunami and its aftermath, he said.

The Union HRD Ministry, in an order earlier, had made it mandatory for the students of Andaman&Nicobar Islands to appear in the AIEE Examinations for eligibility in obtaining seats in Engineering Colleges in the mainland against the reserved quota of the Centre.

UNI