A typical bandh day in Kochi. Photo Credit: karmadue

Fresh Update

Those who have missed out on CMAT in February due to the bandh, can take the exam in May 2013 as well. This has been confirmed by AICTE director Mr SS Mantha.

Second update

AICTE Chairman Mr SS Mantha has said that CMAT exams will be on schedule from February 21-25. “If at all candidates do not reach the exam centres or are inconvenienced because of the bandh, we will make adequate arrangements and make sure they take the exam somehow, if not that day, another day. We will take a decision on that day itself but candidates need to fear missing the exam because of the bandh. We will also inform candidates accordingly,” said Mr Mantha

First update

Article updated at 10.00 am on February 16. AICTE Chairman Mr SS Mantha says no change in dates so far. Today, various newspapers have quoted rival trade unions leaders stating that not all transport services will be off roads on February 20-21. PaGaLGuY also got to know from wholesale and retail traders that the bandh, if at all, may run for one day. Demanding that public transport and private companies to shut shop for two days will be expecting too much.

The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) which is slated to begin from February 21-25, 2013 may see an alteration in dates. This is because of the Bharat bandh called by trade unions on February 20 and 21.

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) chairman Mr SS Mantha told PaGaLGuY that a pucca decision will be taken either this evening or tomorrow morning. “I have yet to receive official papers regarding the bandh. Once they do, I will take a decision accordingly.”

Sources close to AICTE however said that in all likelihood, there will be a postponement. The first CMAT 2013 exam which is to be held on February 21 may be held on February 26, after the final day of the original exam schedule, which is February 25. However, PaGaLGuY was not able to confirm this information. There are even talks that the entire schedule will be delayed by a day, which means the exam may start on February 22 and end on February 26.

AICTE officials are pleased that the number of registrations for the February 2013 exam has crossed 1.50 lakh. This is a huge jump from the previous CMAT examinations. (CMAT February 2012 had 70,000 applicants; CMAT September 2012 had 60,000 applicants.

The AICTE helpline is also flooded with calls from CMAT aspirants. A person attending the helpline has been informing callers that there is no change in exam schedule as of now but if a change is announced; all candidates will be individually informed, either by mail or phone.

Strangely, if the postponement does take place, it will be after many postponements of the registration deadlines. Everytime a new state agreed to include CMAT as its official management exam, AICTE extended the deadline. Last of them was Karnataka.

The bandh, is expected to hit commuters and students hard. In Maharashtra, Higher Secondary Certificate examinations are also going to be affected. Called by trade unions, much of public transport is also expected to be off the roads on the two days. Ironic, that those who think the government’s policies are anti-public do not mind the country suffering a loss of thousands of crores of rupees in the name of a bandh, which often also turns violent.