Polytechnic colleges are institutes that train technicians who act as the significant link that connects engineers and skilled workers. Engineers oversee the various aspects of construction like the designs and maintenance, while the skilled workers like electricians and motor– mechanics take care of rest of the aspects.

Those who have passed Class Ten can opt for the three-year polytechnic diploma courses in the engineering/ technology streams to become technicians. A polytechnic course would be a stepping stone to climb the heights of success in their careers. Interestingly, there are diploma courses in the commerce/ management streams too. There will be an additional 12-month-long in-plant training for the Tool and Dye course.

The applications for the architecture courses are being received now, hoping that it would get the approval of the Council of Architecture.

Courses
There are 27 courses in two streams.
1) Diploma in Engineering / technology: There are 25 courses including civil, mechanical, electrical, electronics, IT, cyber forensics and IT and architecture.

2) Diploma in Commercial Practise/ Computer Applications and Business Management: 2 courses.

Lateral entry leading to B Tech
The diploma holders who are already working can earn a BTech degree by attending the evening classes. They could enter the second year of study through the lateral entry program. This diploma is enough to attend the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for admission to architecture courses in the Indian Institutes of Technology. Through this additional qualification, the candidates could earn the institute membership that is considered equivalent to BTech for most jobs.

Eligibility, selection
Those who have passed Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) Examination/Technical High School Leaving Certificate (THLC) Examination in two chances can apply. Applicants who cleared the Class 10 examinations held by the Central Board of Secondary Education too are eligible.

Candidates who had studied Maths and Science as the core subjects can opt for the Engineering and Commerce streams. Meanwhile, those who studied Maths but didn’t study other Science subjects can only apply to the commerce streams.

There will be no additional chance for those who have passed by attending the ‘Save a Year’ or betterment exam.

The selection will be based on the grade point of the SSLC exam, the candidate’s aptitude and the reservation guidelines. Centralised allotment would be done thrice. If there are vacant seats even after that, then colleges under Institute of Human Resource Development (IHRD) and Co–operative Academy of Professional Education (CAPE) would conduct admissions on their own.

Even though KELTRAC comes under the category of government-owned self-financing institute, students here have to pay the fees charged by the private management colleges.

Reservation norms
10% seats have been reserved in the engineering/technology streams for those who have passed THLC exam. Meanwhile, 2% seats have been reserved for applicants who did Vocational Higher Secondary courses. 5% seats are reserved for persons with disability in all the streams.

The 40% community reservation criterion decided by the government for admission to the professional colleges would be strictly followed. Only the applicants from Scheduled Caste/Tribe (SC/ST) categories would get reservations without considering their income status. Meanwhile, 10% reservation benefits are available for economically backward students.

Besides these, there are special reservation for sports, National Cadet Corps, wards or former soldiers, wards of those who lost their lives in war, transgender persons and various nominees. Seats have been reserved for students who have hearing impairment of at least until 60 dB in some government-owned polytechnics.

Online application
The prospectus could be downloaded from the website www.polyadmission.org. The applicants need to do a one-time registration on this website by paying the fees. The application fee of Rs 200 could be paid online. SC/ST candidates need to pay Rs 100.

The applicants can access the candidate’s dashboard by logging in using the registered mobile number/ registration number or OTP. The application with the filled-in details should be submitted before 2 August.

Single application
A single application is required for admission to all types of institutes — government, aided, and government-controlled self-financing ones as well as those under the Institute of Human Resources Development (IHRD) and Co-operative Academy of Professional Education (CAPE).

Students who gain admission to self-financing institutions and for government seats in private colleges need to pay higher fees.

Seats are also reserved for those who have hearing impairment.

Even though women candidates are admitted in all the polytechnic colleges, 7 government-owned colleges are exclusively for women. They are at Thiruvananthapuram, Kayamkulam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kottakkal, Kozhikode and Payyannur.

Make sure that you have all the required documents before applying. Details about the courses, streams of study and the institutes are given in the prospectus. Think and decide about the order of preference of the courses that you wish to study. A candidate could submit up to 30 applications. A single option includes a polytechnic college and a course. Do not forget to keep the printed copy of the application. There is no need to send the hard copy of the application via post.

Applications against quotas
Separate applications need to be submitted on the same website for those seeking to avail seats under sports, management and National Cadet Corps quotas. The printed hard copy of these applications should be submitted at the respective colleges.

Click on the Applications for Management Quota Seats link in www.polyadmission.org for applying to the 15% management seats in aided colleges and in private colleges. 15% management quota seats are reserved in 6 aided private colleges too.

Besides these, 5% seats have been reserved, as per the tuition fee waiver project, for every course in each polytechnic colleges, for the applicants whose annual family income doesn’t exceed Rs 8 lakh. Candidates belonging to all the communities would be considered for this quota.

Separate applications have to be submitted to various institutes where a candidate seeks to join. Besides, fees too have to be paid separately for each college.

Free help desks have been set up in all the polytechnic colleges for those who find it difficult to submit the applications. After the trial allotment on 6 August, time would be provided for the applicants to rearrange their order of preferences.

The original documents and certificates have to be presented at the time of admission.