The ministry has asked the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to issue a "suitable regulation" to implement the proposal

There will be single entrance examination for engineering and architecture course from the year 2018, confirms Ministry of Human Resources & Development.

The ministry has asked the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to issue a "suitable regulation" to implement the  proposal  from the academic year 2018-19.

The entrance exam will be conducted multiple times a year like  the SAT test in the US which aims at bringing uniformity in academic standards and reduce admissions through donations, reports The Times of India.

It has come after the National Eligibility-Cum-Entrance Test (NEET), a single, all-India test for entry to medical and dental colleges launched in 2016.

However, Indian Institute ofTechnologies(IITs)will have their separate examination.

"The admission for IITs will continue as per the present scheme. IITs will conduct the joint entrance examination (advanced). Students who qualify JEE (mains) can appear for the JEE (advanced) examination. Approximately 2,00,000 students qualify to appear for JEE (advanced) examination," said a senior HRD official.

A Hindustan Times report said there are 3,300 approved engineering colleges which enroll around 1.6 million students every year but only 50% seats are occupied.

While there are a few states which conduct their own entrance examinations, some colleges provide seats based on class 12 marks. Only few private collegs conduct their separate entrance examinations.