No clarity on fee reimbursement derails Telangana polytechnic admissions

TG POLYCET 2025 seat allotment has been delayed due to uncertainty over fee reimbursement after a 161% hike in diploma course fees. The Telangana government is yet to decide on whether full fees will be reimbursed for eligible students.

Hyderabad: The Telangana Polytechnic Common Entrance Test (TG POLYCET) 2025 first seat allotment has hit a roadblock due to confusion over the fee reimbursement limit, which the State government is yet to decide on the steep fee hike for the diploma courses.

The State government had on October 10, 2024, issued GO MS No. 38 revising the annual fee for all diploma courses offered by the private polytechnic colleges from Rs.14,900 to Rs.39,000, which is 161 percent fee enhancement. However, no decision has been taken whether or not full enhanced fees will be reimbursed for eligible students as is being done now.

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Like every year, the State Board of Technical Education and Training had successfully conducted the POLYCET and announced results as well, while the Technical Education department issued the admission schedule.

As many as 21,316 candidates attended the certificate verification process and 12,691 exercised web options for seat and institution allotment in the web counselling conducted from June 26 to July 1.

The seat allotment, as per the schedule, was to be done on or before July 4 with payment of fee and self-reporting through the website was between July 4 and 6.

However, the counselling commenced without a decision from the government on reimbursement for enhanced fees. During the first phase seat allotment the issue was noticed by officials concerned who sought clarification from the State government on the same.

According to Technical Education department sources, the State government is exploring options on the new fee structure. Two proposals – full fee reimbursement of the Rs.39,000, or introducing a cap similar to private engineering colleges with students paying the difference amount – are being explored.

If the government chooses to reimburse the full revised fee, around Rs.25 crore financial burden is expected on the State exchequer. This amount could touch Rs.75 crore over the next two years.

Official sources reveal that the first seat allotment will resume only after a final decision is made regarding reimbursement for the new fee structure.

“Since fees amount to be paid student concerned as to be mentioned in the provisional seat allotment order we are waiting for the government to clear the air on reimbursement for revised fee. Otherwise, we are ready with seat allotment,” sources said.