Odisha Common PG entrance on Oct 12; Special arrangements for COVID-19 examinees

Bhubaneswar: The Department of Higher Education today announced the date for conducting Common PG Entrance for admission into master’s degree in various subjects in colleges and universities for the academic session 2020.

The Common PG entrance will be conducted from October 12 to 22 with adherence to COVID-19 guidelines. The admission will be held in 83 streams this academic session, informed Higher Education Secretary Saswat Mishra at a presser today.

The selection of candidates for admission into courses will be made on basis marks (70 out of 100) secured in the entrance and the career marks (30). The merit list will be published on November 7, he said.

For the first time, the authorities have decided to allow candidates infected with COVID-19 for the examination.

“The special arrangements will be made for COVID-19 examinees to attend the entrance. They can appear in the examination in isolation rooms,” Mishra said.

A total of 62,200 students has applied for the entrance test this year. The examination will be held in 26 centres for 14,700 PG seats.

The question papers of subjects in Arts, Science and Commerce streams have been prepared by Berhampur University, Sambalpur University and Utkal University respectively.

The question papers and OMR sheets have reached the entrance examination centres in major towns in Odisha except Paralakhemundi in Gajapati district. The question papers are expected to reach there by evening today.

The Department has made it clear that PG classes will be held online if the State Government delays in taking decision for reopening of schools and colleges.

On National Education Policy 2020, Mishra said that Centre has sought State Government’s opinion for its implementation. A task force headed by Development Commissioner has been formed 10 days ago to review the policy.

Besides, six sub committees have been constituted in this regard. All the education departments including School & Mass Education Department, Higher Education Department come under purview of the new central policy. The decision will be taken after the task force and sub panels submit their reports to the State Government.