Attempt to raise IIT cut-off will affect UP board students: SP

Samajwadi Party said any attempt by the Centre to raise cut off percentage for IIT joint entrance examination will affect the students of the Uttar Pradesh board as they may not be able to qualify for the test.

Samajwadi Party said any attempt by the Centre to raise cut off percentage for IIT joint entrance examination will affect the students of the Uttar Pradesh board as they may not be able to qualify for the test.

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Accusing the Centre and state government of working against the interests of poor students, party spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary said, "by suggesting high cut-off percentage for IIT aspirants, Union Minister Kapil Sibal has already shown UPA government's anti-poor stance and in Uttar Pradesh, the bad shape of the education system is indicative of the seriousness it attaches to the interests of rural and poor students".

"As high as 85 per cent cut off marks are not achievable for the students of UP Board and they would not even qualify to appear for the entrance test," he said.

Meanwhile, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal had yesterday said there was no proposal to allow only those who obtain 80 per cent marks in their Class 12 examinations to sit in the entrance exam for admissions to IITs.

He attacked state Chief Minister Mayawati for writing to Sibal over the matter, saying that instead of dispatching letters to the Centre for all problems and at every given opportunity, it would be better if she first set her own house in order.