CMAT to be held abroad for NRIs,PIOs and foreigners

Educational counselor,Vivek Velankar said with the countries AICTE has chosen for holding CMAT,it is clear that the council is trying to fill up vacant MBA seats. “The council has chosen Afghanistan,Nigeria and Nepal among other countries to hold CMAT. Why has the council not given any thought for holding CMAT in other continents,” he reasoned.

As per AICTE notification,the NRIs,PIOs and foreign nationals will be allotted seats for management education in AICTE approved institutes against all vacancies after centralised admission in management institutions.

CM Chitale,Dean,Department of Management Sciences at University of Pune,said the AICTE decision would ensure hassle-free admission of foreign students. “Earlier,the AICTE approved management institutes had to seek special permission for admitting foreign students,if they did not appear for any qualifying examinations. Previously,foreign students could not appear for any of the qualifying examinations for B-schools in the country as a lot of expense is involved in travelling down to India and also staying in the country for the exams. The decision to conduct CMAT in some foreign countries would address the issue,” he said.

According to higher authorities,around 20,000 management seats are likely go vacant in B-schools only in Maharashtra. The total number of empty seats at national level could be much higher.

CMAT is a national-level test that offers entry for nearly 4 lakh management students in AICTE approved institutes in India. This year,the test will be conducted from September 26-30 in two shifts in 62 cities in India. The test will also be conducted in February,2014. Candidates can apply with the better score. Further details are available on http://www.aicte-cmat.in.