Ahmedabad: The schedule for the Diploma to Degree Common Entrance Test (DDCET) has been significantly revised due to the upcoming local body elections in the state. The exam, conducted for admission to degree engineering and pharmacy courses after Class 10 diploma, was initially scheduled for April 26. However, as polling is set to take place on the same day, the Admission Committee for Professional Courses (ACPC) has decided to postpone the exam in the interest of students.As per the revised schedule, the exam will now be conducted in two phases instead of a single day. The entrance test for diploma to degree (D2D) engineering courses will be held on May 5, while the test for D2D pharmacy courses will take place on May 9.The online registration process for these courses was conducted from Feb 9 to March 30. The admission process covers 36,212 seats across 16 govt, three grant-in-aid, and 120 self-financed colleges in the state. This year, a total of 21,707 students have registered for engineering admissions, while 339 candidates have applied for pharmacy courses.Earlier, the committee planned to conduct both exams on April 26 in a single phase. However, the announcement of elections created a conflict, as students would have had to appear for exams on the same day as voting. Considering this, the authorities revised the dates to avoid inconvenience.Additionally, the pharmacy exam has been scheduled for May 9, keeping in mind that diploma pharmacy students have their final exams until May 8. This ensures that students do not have to appear for entrance tests during their ongoing exams.The revised schedule also includes changes in subsequent activities. The answer key for engineering will now be released on May 6, followed by the grievance submission window from May 6 to May 11, and the final answer key will be published on May 20.
