For admissions here, the number of seats is almost a non-issue.

Last year, for example, 13 PhD candidates students were selected for mathematics but 10 joined. This year, four were selected for mathematics. In biology, 10 joined last year, up from two in 2002. During one year, five were selected for chemistry but none joined.

Director S Bhattacharya told The Indian Express that the institute has not received any information from the government about the proposed legislation. ‘‘We’ll be happy to be part of any decision-making process,’’ says Bhattacharya. ‘‘My hope is that the legislators in their wisdom devise a plan that won’t affect us negatively and will ensure our activities remain of high quality.’’

About 400-600 of the test applicants are called for hour-long interviews during February to May. Last year was a ‘‘better’’ year with 49 joining, from 85 who were selected.

‘‘It’s a high-pressure environment. Regularly, students in specialisations like mathematics are asked to leave mid-way if they cannot cope,’’ says a senior faculty member.

Soon, they’ll start preparing for 2007 selections.

‘‘We can’t think of a substantial increase in numbers,’’ says a senior faculty. ‘‘Faculty is getting old. The absence of young minds can be detrimental to science. Even in computer science, quality students are not joining.’’

Best applications are coming from a ‘‘catchment area’’ of science—Bengal and Orissa. ‘‘We test knowledge of basic sciences and understanding of scientific principles,’’ says Krishnamoorthy. ‘‘We need people with a clear aptitude to seek further knowledge. Some years ago we stopped selecting based on grades because they vary as per regions.’’

... contd.