The lateral entry scheme was introduced with a view to provide an opportunity for meritorious diploma holders to pursue a degree course in engineering. Those who secure 60 per cent marks in the three-year engineering diploma examination and clear the entrance test are eligible for admission to the second year of the B.Tech. course under this scheme.
The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has made it clear that the three-year engineering diploma course is equivalent to the first year of B.Tech./B.E. degree course in the subject concerned.
To maintain uniformity among the various schemes of lateral entry, AICTE has put in place a State-level entrance examination for the selection. One of the major advantages of the entrance test is that diploma holders can easily obtain admission to merit seats. There are several higher education institutions that provide lateral entry to B.Tech. courses.
Candidates will be admitted only to the branch of engineering as per the equivalency. For example, Diploma holders in applied electronics will be eligible for B.Tech. course in electronics/communication/applied electronics and instrumentation engineering.
Diploma holders in any branch will be considered for admission to B.Tech. in information technology.
Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar, offers lateral entry to engineering courses through KIIT entrance examination. Diploma holders in the relevant discipline with 60 per cent marks and age less than 24 years are eligible for admission. Branches available under the lateral entry scheme are civil, mechanical, electrical, electronics and communication, computer science and engineering, IT, and electronics and electrical engineering. Website: www.kiit.ac.in
Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam, Erode, offers lateral entry to engineering courses. Website: www.bannari.com/education. Phone: 0422-2303223.
Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal, offers lateral entry for diploma holders and B.Sc. (Mathematics) degree holders. Website: www.admissions.manipal.
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Noorul Islam University, Kumaracoil, Thuckalay, offers lateral entry to three-year B.Tech. programmes in computer technology, electronics and communication engineering, civil, electrical and electronics engineering for meritorious diploma holders. Website: www.niceindia.com
Thapar University, Patiala, offers admission to second-year B.E./ B.Tech. courses through lateral entry test. Website: www.thapar.edu.
Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology, Longowal (Punjab), conducts three-year B.Tech. programmes for meritorious engineering diploma holders. Website: www.sliet.ac.in.