Jadavpur University will conduct an entrance test for admission to its five-year evening BTech programme in three cities — Calcutta, Siliguri and Durgapur — on September 5.

The test will be held to fill 53 seats each in the civil, electrical and mechanical engineering courses. “The exam is being held in three cities so that the physical distancing norm, a key component of the Covid protocol, could be followed,” a JU official said.

Last year, the test could not be held because of the pandemic and students were admitted based on their performance in diploma courses in engineering.

“This year the university will hold the exam in three cities following the Covid protocol,” said JU pro-vice-chancellor Chiranjeeb Bhattacharya.

An official of the university said the cities were chosen so that the candidates did not have to travel much.

“If we asked all the candidates to converge at a lone centre, this could lead to a large assembly — a scenario that is not advisable amid the pandemic. Since there is a curb on transport also, spreading the centres will help the candidates in travelling to the venues,” he said.

Earlier, the state joint entrance examination board used to conduct the test on behalf of JU. This year the university is conducting the test itself.

Exam details are available on the JU website.

In early July after the higher education had barred the board from holding any entrance test on behalf of Presidency University citing pandemic, the board came up with a notification on July 8 stating that it would not conduct any institution specific entrance test “until there is any revised decision by the competent authority”.

Last year after JU had conducted counselling, of the 50 seats each in electrical and mechanical engineering courses, 33 and 34 seats remained vacant, prompting the university to hold a fresh round of counselling.

“We hope the situation will improve while screening candidates through an entrance test,” said a JU official.