KEAM: State government move to ignore committee suggestion backfires
The committee's suggestion that 'introducing a new formula or making any modifications to the existing one would only be possible after thorough and detailed studies' was produced before the High Court following its directive. Though the government had admitted the existence of the report, it was not placed before the court earlier. As per the report, the government was asked to ensure that any new formula implemented is 'demonstrably better than the current one'.
However, the committee recommended that in the current year, the number of years should be reduced to 5 years for the calculation of 'overall mean and standard deviation.'
The committee suggested to revise the existing 50:50 weightage ratio currently applied between the normalised entrance examination marks and the standardised total marks/grades obtained in the qualifying examination (final year) to a new ratio of 60:40 (Entrance score : 60, Qualifying score: 40). This proposal regarding weightage ration was agreed upon by three members, while one member, Sivakumar, expressed dissent.
As per the report, based on the preliminary observations, the method that uses statistical parameters such as Overall Range, Group Minimum, and Group Range was considered by the committee members to be the most appropriate. But implementing the new method this year would not be scientifically appropriate, as a more comprehensive study is required to make an authoritative comparison with the current method.
It was also noted that the formula was tested using only a very limited sample and that the parameters used in the formula were derived from that sample itself.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
37 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Supreme Court decides to wait a day for Kerala government's take on KEAM 2025 revised rank list
The Supreme Court on Tuesday (July 15, 2025) gave the Kerala government 24 hours to inform if it intends to appeal a High Court direction to publish the revised rank list of the Kerala Engineering Architecture and Medical Examination (KEAM) 2025. A Bench headed by Justice P.S. Narasimha made it clear that the court's interference would be minimal and based on legal principles and not on facts. 'We are very clear... We are not going to interfere in any existing selection, appointment processes. The country is plagued with this problem of uncertainty as every exam, every appointment comes under challenge and gets delayed. We will consider this case on principles, but so far as facts are concerned, we will not interfere,' Justice Narasimha addressed the parties in the court room. Scheduling the case for hearing for July 16, the court instructed Kerala State counsel C.K. Sasi to take instructions from the government and apprise the Bench. Original prospectus The original prospectus for KEAM 2025, which was held between April 22-30, had prescribed that the marks obtained in 10+2 in respect of Maths, Physics and Chemistry would be in the ratio of 1:1:1. However, the Kerala government had constituted a Standardisation Review Committee on April 9 to study the method and formula used to calculate standardised/normalised marks of KEAM-2025 and to suggest any changes. The committee had submitted its report on June 2. Following which, the State, taking into consideration the committee report and the suggestions given by the Commissioner of Entrance Examinations, decided to amend the ratio for subject marks in KEAM 2025. On July 1, the State ordered that the marks obtained in 10+2 for Maths, Physics and Chemistry would be taken in the ratio of 5:3:2 instead of the earlier 1:1:1. The existing 50:50 ratio for marks obtained in the entrance examination and 10+2 Board examination would continue. The State published the KEAM rank list the same day. On July 10, the High Court directed the reversion to 1:1:1 as provided in the original prospectus. The High Court had reasoned that the modification to the standardisation formula was made belatedly, after the conclusion of the entrance examination and merely an hour prior to the publication of the rank list. The High Court had found the timing both arbitrary and unsustainable in law. The revised rank list was published on July 11. Appearing for the State syllabus students on Tuesday, advocates Prashant Bhushan and Zulfiker Ali P.S., argued that the State was empowered to make the amendments to original prospectus to create a 'level playing field for candidates of the State Board and the CBSE'. 'The old standardisation formula [prior to the amendment to the original prospectus] was disproportionate and disadvantageous to the majority of students studying under the State syllabus in government schools. It is important to note that in Kerala government school students predominately come from middle and lower-income backgrounds,' Mr. Bhushan contended. Justice Narasimha remarked the 'new rule balances much better than the earlier one' but questioned the timing of the modification to the standardisation formula in July, months after the KEAM exam and just before the declaration of the results. 'The issue is we do not doubt the new rule, but when you introduce a new policy... can you do it all of a sudden? Do you not have to declare it first and say it will be implemented from next year…' Justice Narasimha asked advocate Bhushan. Senior advocate Raju Ramachandran and advocate Aljo Joseph, on a caveat for CBSE students, highlighted that the formula was revised an hour before the publication of the rank list on July 1. Mr. Bhushan said the problem of disparity between the State syllabus students and their CBSE counterparts had been flagged by the Controller of Examinations in 2024 itself. He said the High Court order had affected a large number of students in Kerala while seeking urgent relief.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Andhra Pradesh govt. drops all proceedings against retired IPS officer Venkateswara Rao
The Government of Andhra Pradesh has officially dropped all further proceedings against retired IPS officer A.B. Venkateswara Rao, former Additional Director-General of Police (Intelligence), following the quashing of an FIR and chargesheet by the High Court of Andhra Pradesh. In G.O. RT No.1334 issued on Tuesday, Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand said the case registered against Mr. Venkateswara Rao by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) under multiple IPC Sections, including 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), and 409 (criminal breach of trust), and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act was no longer valid in the light of the High Court's ruling. The FIR and subsequent chargesheet filed before the Special Judge for SPE & ACB Cases in Vijayawada were quashed by the High Court, in response to a criminal petition filed by Mr. Venkateswara Rao. After examining the case, the State government decided not to pursue the Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court, and formally issued orders to cease all further legal and departmental action. The Director-General of Police was directed to implement the decision accordingly.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Legislation banning black magic under consideration, State govt. tells Kerala HC
The State government has informed the Kerala High Court that a legislation banning black magic, sorcery and other superstitious practices is under consideration and that the Cabinet had earlier postponed a decision on this due to the 'legal complexities' involved. Based on this, a Division Bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji sought details of the 'legal complexities' with regard to the legislation. When the government stated that action was hitherto being taken as per the BNS, Police Act, POCSO Act and other legislations, the court sought details like the number of cases registered in this connection during the past five years and the action taken. The case has been posted for hearing on August 5. The government had submitted before the High Court in June that it would not proceed to enact a law to ban such practices, citing a policy decision made by the State Cabinet. This was in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham that sought a law similar to those enacted in Maharashtra and Karnataka to prohibit harmful rituals. The PIL was filed in 2022 in the wake of a ritual human sacrifice of two women in the Pathanamthitta district by three people. Law Commission In an affidavit filed before a Division Bench of the High Court, the government had said in June that a draft Bill titled 'The Kerala Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices, Sorcery and Black Magic Bill, 2022' had been prepared based on recommendations from the Law Reforms Commission. However, after deliberations, the Council of Ministers decided on July 5, 2023, not to go ahead with the legislation. While the court may have noted the social concerns raised in the PIL, it cannot compel the legislature to pass a law. A writ of mandamus will not lie against the legislature directing it to legislate on a particular subject, the government had submitted in its June affidavit. Subsequently, the High Court had asked the State government to clarify on the steps it intended to take to control sorcery and black magic, especially in light of the government's stand that no legislation was currently under consideration. Stating that the K.T. Thomas Commission report had recommended legislation to curb black magic and related inhuman practices and that the government had not taken any follow up action on the report, the court had in June directed the State to clearly explain how it planned to prevent the practice of black magic and sorcery, even in the absence of a law.
