Bhubaneswar, March 11: Taking a cue from the JEE (Mains), the state government has decided to take matriculation marks into consideration while admitting students into the diploma engineering courses in the state.

Forty per cent of the marks secured during the matriculation exams will be considered while selecting the candidates for Diploma Entrance Test (DET).

“Admissions into the first semester of diploma engineering courses and lateral entry shall be made on the basis of the merit rank drawn by 60 per cent weightage to DET-2014 marks and 40 per cent weightage to qualifying examination marks through web based e-counselling,” said an official.

Similarly, admissions into non-engineering courses will also take into consideration 40 per cent of marks secured at matriculation level.

“This has been done to get better quality students and to ensure that students take their matriculation exams seriously. Also, this way we would get students who have their basic fundamentals clear,” said the official.

Earlier any HSC students with 35 per cent marks, who appeared for DET were qualified to take admissions into the engineering schools.

The DET-2014 for admission into diploma engineering, diploma engineering (lateral entry), diploma (non-engineering) that is diploma in film and TV courses will be conducted on May 18. This time, candidates for DET-2014 have option to apply online only. There will be no offline mode of submission of applications, confirmed the officials. The receipt of online application form, which begun yesterday will continue up to April 25.

The test will be held in 42 exam centres in the state.