KEAM 2025 has come under legal and public scrutiny after the Kerala High Court cancelled the results of this year’s engineering and pharmacy entrance examination. In response, the state government has decided to challenge the court’s decision, with Higher Education Minister R. Bindu confirming that the issue will be taken up at the Cabinet meeting scheduled for Thursday, July 10.
New Normalisation Formula Sparks Debate
At the heart of the controversy is the newly introduced mark normalisation formula, which was implemented this year to address persistent complaints—especially from Kerala State Board students—regarding unfair score reductions. Minister Bindu explained that the old system had caused even top-performing students to lose up to 35 marks during the normalisation process.
“Our intention was to create a system that ensures fairness. The previous formula disproportionately affected State board students, and the revised method aimed to fix that imbalance,” she said during a media interaction on Wednesday, July 9.
The Cabinet had approved the new normalisation method in advance, based on academic consultations and student feedback collected over previous years.
Government Defends Transparency
The petitioners in the High Court case argued that the change was implemented too late and appeared to favour State board students after a relatively weaker Plus Two performance. However, Minister Bindu rejected this claim, asserting that the KEAM 2025 prospectus clearly allowed for such modifications.
“The government has acted transparently and in good faith. The changes were not last-minute or politically motivated. Our goal was to avoid injustice and protect student interests,” she said.
Allotment Process Faces Possible Delay
The High Court’s decision has the potential to stall the entire allotment process for engineering and pharmacy admissions in the state. While some students have already secured seats in top institutions like the IITs and NITs through the JEE, nearly 40,000 students depend on KEAM for entry into Kerala’s engineering colleges.
Despite the legal hurdle, the Higher Education Department is taking steps to ensure that students do not suffer any setbacks. Minister Bindu said the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations will work to keep the admission process in line with the schedule set by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
Students Assured of Smooth Admission
To ease the growing concern among students and parents, the minister assured that no candidate will be negatively impacted due to the ongoing legal dispute. “We will make sure that admissions continue on time. Students should not worry—they will not be affected by the case,” she stated.
What Lies Ahead for KEAM Aspirants
The state’s decision to appeal the High Court’s ruling will now determine the future course of KEAM 2025 admissions. As the legal process unfolds, thousands of students remain in limbo, waiting for clarity on their college future.
The case has also reignited broader conversations around how entrance exams are structured and whether mark normalisation processes truly reflect student merit. For now, the state government is holding firm on its stance, defending the new formula as a much-needed correction to ensure fairness across diverse educational boards.
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