TN announces counselling dates for medical, engineering courses

Chennai, May 24 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu government today announced that counselling for medical and engineering courses in the state for the year 2008 would begin on July four and 11 respectively.

Addressing a joint press conference here, Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy and Health Minister M R K Panneerselvam said the government had decided to conduct the counselling this year earlier following which the Plus Two results were announced accordingly.

Mr Ponmudy said applications for Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA 2008) were issued from May 10.

He said counselling for B E courses under general category would begin from July 11 and the last date was August 31.

Counselling for vocational stream would take place from July four to eight, sports category (July three), for other States students (July nine) and for handicapped category on July ten.

Mr Ponmudy said the last date for submission of filled applications was May 31. The random numbers would be announced on June 20 and the rank list would be published five days later.

In Tamil Nadu, there were nearly 270 engineering colleges which account for 1.30 lakh seats. Till now, 1.35 lakh application forms had been sold and 20,000 filled forms were received.

Mr Ponmudy said 1,445 additional seats had been allotted in government engineering colleges this year, including 360 seats in Anna University, Chennai.

The seat matrix would be 65 per cent seats under government quota and 35 per cent seats under self-financing quota.

The fees structure would be announced after a committee, formed by the government, submits its report, he said, adding, the government was committed to reducing the fees for the benefit of poor.

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