The State Government on Monday extended the deadline of online applications for the Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE)-2013 from March 20 to April 2.
Technical Education Minister Pratap Keshari Deb said, "The online registration for OJEE-2013 will be completed by April 2 whereas draft collection will continue till April 6."
Similarly, registration for diploma courses was extended till March 30. "In case of diploma courses, reservation of seats for girl students has been increased to 30 per cent from 15 per cent," the Minister said.
The Government has also made a few changes in the counselling practice. Henceforth, the eligible students would directly pay Rs 16,000 to colleges where they would take admissions. Earlier, students were required to submit the amount during counselling.
Sources said students would appear for the OJEE 2013 in around 145 centres across the State and 35 centres outside the State.
To check malpractices, a two-tier observer system would be set up at examination centres, the Minister added.
On safe custody of question papers, the Minister said his department would also seek cooperation from the police, district Collectors, school and mass education and higher education departments for smooth conduct of the test.