CET for merchant navy cadets planned in January 2008

Aiming to increase students from rural areas and curbing malpractices in the selection process, the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has decided to introduce a common entrance test (CET) for aspiring nautical officers and marine engineers in the merchant navy.

"Within a month, we are inviting expression of interest (EOI) from institutions willing to conduct the CET, as we want to outsource the exercise," deputy director general of shipping P H Krishnan told The Indian Express. "The first entrance test is planned in January 2008, the date of which would be fixed soon."

The decision was aimed at curbing malpractices and increasing the intake of youths from rural areas. "Candidates from rural areas are sturdier than their counterparts from cities," he said. "We also want to introduce a centralised screening process to detect bogus certificates."

Krishnan said some training institutions were charging hefty capitation fees from aspirants and the DGS wanted to stop it. "The CET will reduce the subjectivity in the selection process and there will be more accountability," he added.

The DGS will involve the IGNOU in the process as the university grants BSc (nautical science) degrees to cadets trained by private institutions. Students are admitted to the three-year course after they clear the HSC (science) with a minimum of 55 per cent of marks in the physics, chemistry, and mathematics group.

"We plan to increase the percentage of marks from 55 to 60 per cent, conduct an aptitude test and select a candidate according to marks obtained on a score card," Krishnan said.

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