Karnataka government considers freezing enhancement of Computer Science engineering seats
The State government is considering freezing the enhancement of Computer Science Engineering (CSE) seats to prevent the mushrooming of private engineering colleges in tier-1 cities and unemployment in the future.
The Telangana High Court had recently upheld the Telangana government's decision regarding the enhancement of CSE seats, and Higher Education Minister M.C. Sudhakar said that the order is being reviewed.
'Last year, the Telangana government had imposed restrictions on the enhancement of CSE seats in private engineering colleges. This was challenged by some private engineering college managements in the High Court there. It is learnt that the court, which upheld the Telangana government's action, has dismissed the petition of the private engineering colleges. In this context, there is a need to freeze the enhancement of CSE seats in Karnataka as well,' the Minister told The Hindu.
According to the Higher Education Department's notified seat matrix for engineering and architecture courses in the State, there were 1,32,309 seats in 245 engineering colleges for the academic year 2024-25. This included 62,930 seats under the government quota, 28,656 seats under the COMED-K quota, and 5,155 seats under supernumerary quota. Among these, around 45,000 seats belong only to CSE and related courses.
Currently, there is a huge demand for seats in CSE due to job availability, among other reasons. The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is the authority for granting permission to start new engineering colleges, courses, and seat enhancement on the basis of infrastructure.
The council removed the cap on engineering admissions and is allowing the enhancement of engineering seats based on the demand of engineering colleges.
Taking this as an excuse, some private engineering colleges in tier-1 cities have increased the number of seats more than the limit fixed by the State government based on the infrastructure, by getting permission from AICTE. Some colleges have 1,500 to 2,000 seats only for CSE courses.
Letter to AICTE
This has led to an imbalance between traditional and emerging engineering disciplines, the mushrooming of engineering colleges in tier-1 cities, and the increase in seats for a single course, leading to a lack of jobs related to that course in the future.
Mr. Sudhakar, in October 2023, had written to AICTE expressing concern over its lenient norms, which he argued have led to an over-concentration of engineering colleges in tier-1 cities and a glut of courses in popular subjects like CSE. This, he said, has disrupted the balance in technical education across the State.
He also requested that AICTE should mandate a State government No Objection Certificate (NOC) before approving any applications. However, AICTE reportedly did not respond positively to the Minister's letter.
'AICTE is only giving permission to increase the number of new colleges, courses, and seat enhancement by looking at the basic infrastructure. However, it does not consider the problems that will arise in the future by allowing an increase in seats for the same courses. Currently, CSE graduates are not getting jobs. Also, there is an imbalance between traditional courses and emerging disciplines. In this regard, the Telangana High Court's verdict is a ray of hope, and after a comprehensive study of this matter and obtaining detailed information from the Telangana government, action will be taken to freeze CSE seats,' the Minister said.
'It is no secret that there are more job opportunities for computer science and related engineering graduates in the job market at the moment. Therefore, there is a high demand for these courses in colleges with good infrastructure. I do not know for what purpose the government is saying that the seats of CSE should be frozen. This year too, we have applied to AICTE for CSE seat enhancement, and we are expecting it to be approved,' said the principal of a private engineering college that was newly started last year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
3 hours ago
- India.com
IAS Smita Sabharwal's class 12th marksheet goes viral, she scored 97 marks out of 100 in…, 94 in...
IAS officer Smita Sabharwal is a well-known Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer. She is widely known as the 'People's Officer'. This title has been conferred on her not only because of her transparent administration, efficient governance, and people-centric policies, but she has also proactively used technology and social media to provide reforms and innovation that facilitate the efficiency of public service. As a benchmark in administration excellence and public welfare, the role of the IAS officer, as documented under Smita Sabharwal, will continue to positively impact many facets of public welfare. At 23, Smita Sabharwal cleared the 2000 UPSC CSE examination. She secured an All India Rank(AIR) of 4 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination reportedly in her second attempt. Sabharwal, who was currently Special Chief Secretary, Youth Advancement, Tourism & Culture (YAT&C) and Director, Archaeology, has been transferred to the post of Member Secretary, Telangana Finance Commission, which she previously held prior to her transfer to YAT&C in November 2024. The 2001-batch IAS officer had recently been transferred because of the protests of HCU students, environment activists, and opposition parties regarding the alleged destruction of forest on the Kancha Gachibowli land. The IAS officer from the 2001 batch very recently re-shared the post during the protests by HCU students, environmental activists, and opposition parties regarding the alleged deforestation of trees on Kancha Gachibowli land. IAS officer Smita Sabharwal is a name that inspires thousands of civil service aspirants and students across India. She has made her mark through her exemplary governance and participation on social media. She has gained a strong following in the youth community through her past professional accomplishments, but also through her role as a disciplined student, dedicated to her academics. Speaking about her educational qualification, Smita Sabharwal completed her schooling at St. Ann's High School in Secunderabad, Telangana. In 1995, she took her Class 12th Examination under the Indian School Certificate (ISC) board through Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), New Delhi, receiving a Grade A in SUPW & Community Service. Her subjects were English, Hindi, Economics, Structure of Commerce, and Principles of Accounts – a varied and titaniacally engineered mix that helped to lay the foundations from which she would go on to succeed in the civil services. Smita Sabharwal had an impressive overall academic performance according to her CISCE ISC (Class 12th) mark sheet. During the 1995 Indian School Certificate Examination, she scored 94 out of 100 in both English and Hindi, 90 out of 100 in Economics, 86 in Structure of Commerce, and 97 in Principles of Accounts. She is one of India's youngest female IAS officers. IAS officer Smita Sabharwal is known for her dedication and approachability, and she is often referred to as the 'People's Officer.'
The Hindu
6 hours ago
- The Hindu
Activists call for strict measures so that green lung spaces can breathe effectively
In the wake of shrinking urban green spaces, activists have called for a proper identification, mapping and fencing of the areas earmarked for parks and Open Space Reservation land so that they are used for public purposes. They stressed the need to place information boards regarding the purpose of the lands in order to protect these and ensure it was used only for public purposes. If these spaces were left unguarded, then the land could be encroached upon or the land could turn into dumping yards, they said. Advocate R. Karunanidhi said as per Rules, the land developers should earmark 10% of the total extent as 'Open Space Reservation' land to be used for public purposes such as public parks and playgrounds. In March, four residents of Ponmani Garden North in Uthangudi in Madurai had filed a public interest litigation petition before the High Court seeking to restrain authorities from putting up any construction on the space earmarked for a park. The residents said the land in survey numbers under Uthangudi village was formed into a layout and it was approved by the authorities. The area that was specifically earmarked for a park was intended for recreational use of the residents. The park was used by the public, particularly by children for playing, and by elderly citizens for walking and relaxation. Under these circumstances, the residents said Corporation authorities had undertaken construction activities for a proposed pumping station. The residents said the loss of a dedicated public park will severely impact the quality of life in the locality and deprive them of an essential community space. The court ordered the status quo be maintained. After the Corporation told the court that the place earmarked for the park has not been used for any other purpose, the petition was closed. The High Court has been hearing a number of such petitions to restrain the authorities from using lands earmarked for parks for any other purposes. The court also directed the authorities to take necessary steps to maintain these parks. The Tamil Nadu Parks, Play-fields and Open space (Preservation and Regulation) Act, 1959 was enacted in the interest of the public to preserve and regulate parks, play-fields and open spaces, the court had observed. In January, to a query raised at the Madurai Corporation Council meeting with regard to the open space reservation and the space allocated for parks, the authorities said a zone wise list/maps earmarking such spaces was prepared. However, AIADMK Councillor Solairaja said they were yet to get such a list. In Dindigul, CPI (M) Councillor S. Ganesan alleged that a prime land in R.M. Colony earmarked as a children's playground has been encroached upon. He pointed out that as per records the land was earmarked as a children's playground at the time of formation of housing plot. He said the land was encroached upon by influential people. Though this was brought to the notice of the authorities, appropriate steps have not been taken to remove the encroachment so far, he said, adding that he had also served notices to the authorities. He said he will be filing a public interest litigation petition before the High Court in this regard. He pointed out that not just in R.M. Colony in the district, but in several places such spaces had been encroached upon. Offering a solution to prevent such incidents, he said there should be regular monitoring of such lands. The authorities should fence the land and place boards with information for the purpose it is intended to be used, he said. Activist V. P. Manikandan of Madurai said if necessary monitoring steps were not taken, such open spaces would turn into parking lots, waste dumping yards and also could be encroached upon. He added that awareness was required. While precautionary measures have been suggested by activists, the district administrations are doing their bit to improve green spaces in the respective districts. Madurai Corporation officials said sapling planting drives have been initiated to improve the urban lung spaces. In Dindigul, a cleanliness drive has been initiated and the authorities inspected the maintenance work being carried out in a park in R.M. Colony. Similarly, in Thoothukudi district, the Corporation had launched a green initiative through sapling plantation drives and park restoration works. Waste materials and invasive species were being removed as part of the initiative. The District Legal Services Authorities in Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga have also undertook mega sapling plantation drives and awareness programmes recently. Recently, Sivaganga District Collector Asha Ajith's initiative to clean up water bodies and plant saplings around them has been getting huge response from philanthropists thus showing that people are concerned about preserving the eco-system. A senior official in Sivaganga said that governments alone cannot achieve results. With public participation, not only water bodies, but every single public place - be it in residential or commercial locations - can bring about a substantial change in preserving the environment.
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
J&K leaders lash out at US over strike in Iran
By Ashiq Hussain , Srinagar Jun 22, 2025 08:20 PM IST J&K political leaders Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday lashed out at the US for its strikes on Iran calling it a dangerous escalation which can trigger Third World War. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah (File) National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah said that the US and Israel have always been against the nuclear ambitions of Iran. 'This is not the first time. America and Israel always have this view to not allow Iran to make nuclear weapons. Today it proved that it is their only motive,' Abdullah said. US bombers made strikes on Iran's three nuclear facilities during the previous night amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. Abdullah also castigated US president Trump for not sticking to his word. 'He had talked about waiting two weeks to see if negotiations would work. They want a regime change. Will there be anything good after regime change,' he said. 'The person or country whom we had expected to intervene, themselves, joined the war. This is their second war -one they are already fighting-- Russia in Ukraine. This means this is moving towards Third World War,' he cautioned. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti castigated Indian government's response to the strikes on Iran by US and Israel, while also lashing out at the neighbouring country for its advocacy of Nobel Peace Prize for Trump. 'The OIC, as expected, has once again limited its response to mere lip service in the wake of the attack on Iran. Meanwhile the country that rushed to recommend Donald Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize now finds itself with egg on its face after he attacked Iran. By launching this attack on Iran, Trump has dangerously escalated tensions plunging the region into a new wave of violence and edging the world closer to the brink of a global conflict,' Mufti said on X. 'Regrettably India long seen as a nation with a historic and principled role in international affairs is not only remaining silent but appears to be aligning itself with the aggressor,' she said.
