Alumni Guest House : Donated by Mr. Mody (Class of '55)

As we all know the purpose of education is value addition in human being. I correctly hope that the candidates selected, their parents and our Institute will have this aspect at the back of our mind for the next four or five years, so that when the students present over here move out of the portals of this University they & we feel that the value of the students has been enhanced. Let us all work for it.

I will now present a brief report of Joint Entrance Examination – 2006

Objective of JEE Operation in IT-BHU are as follows:

1. Smooth conduct of Joint Entrance Examination in BHU.
2. Counseling of JEE qualified candidates.
3. Admission of Candidates at IT-BHU.

Joint Entrance Examination was held on 9th April 2006 as per guidelines of JEE. There were 17 Examination Centres. Team behind the complete operation consisted of 17 Presiding Officers, 26 Deputy Presiding Officers, 34 Observers from IIT-Roorkee, 17 Observers from IT-BHU, about 360 Invigilators and a large number of Administrative and Supporting Staff. Efficient control and execution was done by the Vice-Chairman, JEE, Coordinating Presiding Officer, Secretary, JEE and Academic Section of IT-Directorate. Security was effectively ensured by the Chief Proctor, Banaras Hindu University and his team. The examination was held smoothly without any untoward incident. IIT-Roorkee team was satisfied with the entire operation of JEE-2006 Examination at BHU.

This year the number of JEE candidates appearing in BHU crossed 6700. To accommodate so many candidates 17 centres were created in BHU. Further, this year in JEE all the three subject examinations were to be held in a single day. Thus this year the whole JEE operation was quite challenging and big. With the grace of God, the entire JEE operation was carried out satisfactorily due to a very good and overwhelming cooperation from all the teachers of the University, who acted as Presiding Officers, Deputy Presiding Officers, Observers and Invigilators during the examination. Everyone worked very hard to maintain the prestige of JEE. I take this opportunity to thank one & all for the cooperation alongwith the Academic and JEE office of the IT-Directorate. Thanks are also due to the Indian Railways in Varanasi, in particular the DRM, NE Railway, Station Manager, Varanasi Cantt. Station and Assistant Station Master, Varanasi Cantt. Station. It was because of their immense cooperation that 51 large boxes carrying examination materials from Roorkee was easily unloaded and loaded at Varanasi Cantt. Station. Thanks are also due to Chief Engineer, Eastern Zone, UP Electricity Board, for ensuring uninterrupted power during the examination period.

During counselling there is an interaction of the Counsellors with the aspiring candidates and their guardians. The counsellors act as an effective interface between the candidates and the Institutes to help the candidates in making their choices. Depending upon the interest of the candidates and the image of the institutes, the qualified candidates fill-up their choices of the branch and the Institute.

You may be interested to know few significant details of JEE Operation related to counselling. These are as follows:

1. Qualified candidates get Counselling Brochure for JEE which contains information regarding various branches of engineering available in the participating Institutes, the courses offered by different Institute together with the number of seats available and opening and closing ranks of the candidates who had opted to study in different Institutes in the respective branch of engineering in the previous year. The brochure this year presents information of our Institute in a modified format.

2. Due to past experience it was noted that the number of candidates who take admission are less than the number of candidates, who were offered admission. To take care of such a situation, this year 30% more candidates were called for counselling. Further, at IT-BHU level (as was done last year) 5 extra offers for admissions have been made in Ceramic, Metallurgical, Civil Engineering and Pharmaceutics.

3. I will now present Comments on Changed Entrance Pattern as it appeared in a newspaper.

This year there has been a significant change in the JEE entrance pattern. As the result of this more students from rural areas have been able to make it to the IITs. The new pattern stresses more on in-depth study than “short cuts” and has considerably reduced the disadvantages the rural students faced vis-à-vis their counterparts in cities. Almost 150 more students from villages have cleared the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) this year compared to last year.

Amit Kumar, a top-100 ranker from a small village in Siwan, Bihar says, “The new pattern is the best thing the government could have done to enhance our chances”. This year nearly 1943 of 6403 qualifiers (30.67 percent) are from rural areas. The figure last year was 1794 (28.02 percent) only. The percentage increase in rural qualifiers is over 2.5 percent this year, up from the previous highest of 0.47 percent between 2003 and 2004.

As regard the question papers, these focused on concepts rather than on problems. The new pattern required deeper and wider study than earlier.

Another change in admission procedures, that has helped rural students, is that a first division – 60 percent – in board exams is now mandatory to be eligible for admission to the IITs.

The number of first attempt qualifiers is also at a record high of 2761 (43 percent) this year.

Last year following new courses were introduced at Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi.

Five-Year M.Tech. Integrated Course
1. Engineering Physics
2. Industrial Chemistry
3. Mathematics & Computing

Five-Year M.Tech. Dual Degree Course

4. Ceramic Engineering
5. Computer Science & Engineering
6. Civil Engg. with M.Tech. in Structural Engg.
7. Mechanical Engineering
8. Metallurgical Engineering
9. Materials Science and Technology

This year following more courses has been introduced:

Five-Year M.Tech. Dual Degree Course
1. Biochemical Engineering
2. Bioengineering with M.Tech. in Biomedical Engineering
3. Electrical Engineering with M.Tech. in Power Electronics
4. Mining Engineering
5. Five-Year M.Pharm. Dual Degree Course
   5. Pharmaceutics

• General Category : 537
• SC Category : 55
• ST Category : 03

In addition 67 candidates have been selected for Preparatory Course in IT-BHU.

6. Concluding Remarks Immediately after the seat allocation, the information was put on the Institute websites. The offer letter from IT-BHU was sent to the respective candidates alongwith a letter from out Director giving necessary information and actions required from the candidates for admission to IT-BHU. This year IT-BHU also sent a Welcome Brochure to introduce IT-BHU to the candidates and their parents. The Welcome Brochure was also put on the website.

I take this opportunity to express my personal thanks to my Vice-Chairman, Prof. P.K. Jain, Coordinating Presiding Officer, Prof. A.K. Ghose, Secretary, JEE & Deputy Registrar, Dr. S.N. Singh, Assistant Registrar (Academic) with his team for the tremendous amount of support and cooperation.

Since Varanasi fascinates me very much I will conclude my report by placing before you recent observations made related to Varanasi.

First one by Mr. Shyam Benegal, the famous film director ‘Varanasi is a photogenic city. Like Aishwarya Rai – shoot her from any angle and it gives a perfect shot.

Second one inform Ms. Abha Narain Lambah, Conservationist, (which appeared in India Today 30th Anniversary Issue, July 03, 2006). “My favourite destination would be Varanasi. Few cities are as vital, living and throbbing as this one. What makes it fascinating is its several overlays. A city of contrasts, it encapsulates India. Yes, it is maddening and confusing – after all, multi