The State Government has abolished the Diploma Entrance Test (DET) for admission to diploma engineering courses.
The Skill Development and Technical Education Department has issued a notification to this effect after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik gave his approval.
Admissions to the engineering courses would be done on the basis of marks secured at the High School Certificate (HSC) examination from the current year.
The notification says that as per the guidelines of the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) a student securing 35 per cent marks in his/her HSC examination is eligible to take admission to diploma engineering courses.
The decision was taken to motivate more students to undertake these courses for skill enhancement.
The department was also under pressure as a large number of seats were lying vacant in various polytechnics and engineering schools in the State.
Earlier, the State Cabinet had given its nod for abolition of the entrance examination.