AICTE Proposes Supernumerary Seats for Talented Students in Tech Universities

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) announced that all associate colleges would reserve 2 seats for talented students. These AICTE supernumerary seats are for students who fulfill the eligibility criteria. Moreover, the criteria are based on specific norms set by the Council. Besides promoting the spirit of our National Education Policy (NEP), this initiative aims to unlock the maximum potential of Indian students.

Eligibility Criteria to Qualify for The AICTE Supernumerary Seats

Students who seek to qualify for these reserved seats must prove their candidacy as prescribed by the board. In addition, applicants must provide supporting documents and follow the criteria mentioned to qualify.

• Applicants must have won international or national accolades or any ‘Hackathon.’
• They should have published at least 1 research paper.
• Candidates should be patent holders. However, even if they have received funding from government agencies or respected MNCs for innovative projects, they still qualify.
• Additionally, they can be founders of a registered start-up. The entity established must be under DPIIT norms and incubated at the leading incubators.
• Alternatively, they could design a leading-edge product. However, product endorsement by reputed Indian or Foreign media outlets is a must-have. Besides, they could still qualify if they have curated a technology-based device or application available at Apple, Google, and Windows e-markets.

These AICTE stated norms prove how worthy a student is for deserving a seat. All applicants must adhere to these benchmarks and proceed to apply accordingly. They must meet these qualification guidelines and provide supporting documents to the college for verification. Furthermore, they have to submit a statement of purpose with 3 letters of recommendation with the documents. However, note that the letters must be issued from an appropriate authority over its letterhead. Upon verification of the criteria, a college will accept a candidate for a supernumerary seat.

Objective of Introducing Supernumerary Seats

The Chairman of the AICTE stated that it was high time the system nurtured Indian talent. He believed that gifted students could not showcase their potential in the absence of a needful ecosystem. The NEP 2020 aimed to improve students’ skills and creativity, and this decision advocates the same. Students, over the years, have been pressurized excessively through marking schemes and competition levels. Therefore, this policy comes as a blessing to those creatively-inclined talented students.