In an attempt to streamline management institutions and grade management institutions other than the coveted IIMs, the Human Resource Development Ministry is planning a single admission test for both government and private management courses both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.The examinations next year for admission to courses for the 2005 academic calendar will be partially simplified. There will be five categories of countrywide examinations and the institutes will have to choose one of them.These five tests are CAT, JMET, MAT, ATMA and XAT conducted by institutions like IIM, IIT and XLRI. The tests for the 2006 academic year will have only one countrywide test making the process even simpler.The decision follows complaints from students that they spend too much money as ‘‘entrance examination fee’’. Another complaint was that at times the dates for these examinations overlap. HRD officials say not only would the tests bring down the expenses to about Rs 1,600 but would also help the government keep a leash on management institutions which exaggerate their academic worth in ads. ‘‘It will help us in grading them and the students who score more in the entrance tests will automatically opt for the best. Private management colleges who have just received approval cannot fleece aspirants,” an official said.
