Bhubaneswar, Feb. 13: Admissions for Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE)-2013 began today with the commencement of online form fill-up. For the first time, the forms will be available online.

Students can download the forms from the website www.odishajee2013.com. Earlier, they had to purchase the forms from various banks and post offices. Aspirants can also get their admit cards and rank cards online through this new system. The last day of online submission and registration is March 20.

Students can apply with a fee of Rs 550, which they will be required to pay online through bank challans, debit cards, credit cards or net banking.

Besides engineering, MBA, MCA and pharmacy two new subjects — bachelors in ayurvedic medicine and surgery (BAMS) and bachelors in homeopathic medicine and surgery (BHMS) courses have been included under the OJEE.

For the first time, the OJEE has uploaded the question papers of 2011 and 2012 for students to familiarise themselves with the question pattern. The state government has also decided to do away with the system of awarding negative marks.

Allaying apprehensions about the new system, OJEE Committee secretary Priyabrata Sahu said: “Online application has been introduced for the benefit of students. Our neighbouring states including Bengal and Andhra Pradesh are already doing it and there is no reason why we should not. All other national level examinations are being conducted through online mode.”

Students can also approach OJEE authorities though helpline number (0674-2352455) and the facilitation centre at Gandamunda in the capital in case of any complaint, informed the officials. The authorities have, however, issued a disclaimer saying that the “OJEE 2013” committee will not be held responsible for reduced access speeds because of bandwidth overloads, especially close to the form submission dates.