A Telangana state panel has recommended scrapping the TS EAMCET entrance exam for engineering admissions. The Telangana Education Commission (TEC) proposed admitting students based on Class 12 scores. The commission also called for performance-based ranking of engineering colleges and linking college admissions to their performance. These recommendations follow criticism of the state’s engineering education sector, including a significant drop in the number of engineering colleges and high graduate unemployment rates.
Key Commission Proposals
The TEC’s draft roadmap suggests discontinuing the Engineering, Agriculture and Pharmacy Common Entrance Test (EAPCET). Instead, it advocates using final intermediate (Class 12) examination marks for undergraduate admissions across all state universities. The report also supports Tamil Nadu’s stance against the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions. The commission urged the Telangana government to push for NEET’s cancellation at the national level. For immediate implementation, the TEC recommends that even NRI quota admissions occur through TS EAMCET or TS ECET counselling.
Addressing Industry Readiness
The commission proposes allocating 30-35% of total BTech program credits to internships and apprenticeships. It also mandates the establishment of Industry Engagement, Placement, and Patent Cells (IEPPC) in all engineering institutions. A time-bound faculty hiring plan is another key recommendation. The report highlighted outdated curricula that do not meet current industry demands, contributing to graduate employability issues.
Engineering College Performance and Affiliation
The TEC called for a system to grade engineering colleges based on infrastructure, faculty, research, and learning outcomes. It proposed creating a dedicated unit for technical education analytics and a unified database for monitoring and improvement, with public disclosure of data. The report noted a significant decline in engineering colleges, from 353 in 2017 to 175 currently. Around 17% of BTech seats remain vacant for the 2025-26 academic year.
The commission identified a critical issue with affiliations, stating that most engineering colleges are affiliated with Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad (JNTUH). This places immense pressure on JNTUH due to its oversight of nearly 150 private colleges. The report stated that the university’s limited staff and monitoring mechanisms hinder its ability to ensure consistent quality and regulation. The TEC recommends an immediate review of university affiliation models to improve quality and accountability.
Graduate Employability Concerns
The report cited an estimated 15.8% unemployment rate among engineering graduates in Telangana. Furthermore, 40% of employed graduates are underemployed, holding low-paying jobs due to a lack of relevant opportunities. The median monthly salary for engineering graduates is reported as Rs 15,000–Rs 16,000, only slightly higher than for non-engineering graduates. Faculty vacancies also remain a significant problem, with approximately 70% of sanctioned posts unfilled. The last university assistant professor recruitment occurred over 15 years ago, in 2009.
Private Colleges and Quality Gaps
Private institutions dominate Telangana’s engineering sector, with 160 out of 175 colleges being private. The TEC raised concerns about substandard infrastructure and low student-faculty ratios in many private colleges. It noted that while national bodies like AICTE set minimum standards, enforcement is inconsistent. The report also highlighted the financial struggles and lack of leadership at Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies (RGUKT), a university established for rural students.