India amends the DGS Training Circular 12 of 2020

The Directorate General of Shipping, India has published a circular amending the DGS Training Circular 12 of 2020.

The Directorate issued DGS Training Circular No. 12 of 2020 on 01.04.2020, introducing the Common Entrance Test (CET) to regulate the quality of intake for maritime courses and promote Maritime Education and Training in India among young students.

Point 12.2 of the Training Circular stated that the Common Entrance Test (CET) would be conducted by IMU on behalf of the Directorate for all DGS approved Maritime Training Institutes. Initially, the CET would be conducted for admission into the following pre-sea maritime courses: BE/B-Tech in Marine Engineering (4 years), B.Sc. (Nautical Science) (3 years), and Diploma in Nautical Science leading to B.Sc. (Nautical Science).

The Directorate received representations from various Maritime Training Institutes (MTIs) requesting changes in the Indian Marine University Common Entrance Test (IMU-CET), including nomenclature, number of attempts, inclusion of other entrance examinations, and display of MTI names on the IMU website.

The Directorate discussed these matters with MTIs, including IMU, and formed a committee comprising officers from DGS and MTI representatives. The committee held meetings in three regions of India, resulting in the examination date for IMU-CET being set for 10.06.2023.

The Directorate issued Training Circular 06 of 2017 for admission of foreign students in pre-sea courses, and IMU recently issued Circular No. 2308 on 19.05.2023 with guidelines for admission of foreign students in pre-sea courses (B.Tech. in Marine Engineering, B.Sc. in Nautical Science, and Diploma in Nautical Science leading to B.Sc. in Nautical Science) in affiliated colleges of IMU.

The Directorate examined the matter holistically and made the following decisions:

a) DGS approved MTIs can admit foreign nationals and other eligible candidates in DNS, B.Sc. Nautical Science, and B.Tech Marine Engineering programs;
b) Candidates must meet the eligibility criteria set by the Directorate General of Shipping;
c) MTIs can admit candidates qualified in specific common entrance examinations;
d) MTIs must inform and seek permission from the Directorate General of Shipping before admitting foreign nationals;
e) The total number of candidates admitted under both Indian and foreign student categories should not exceed the sanctioned intake of the program.

NRIs/Foreign students admitted in colleges must register their arrival and submit Form S to the Bureau of Immigration in a timely manner. Compliance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Bureau of Immigration and Ministry of Home Affairs is advised.

Candidates must meet the sea-going course requirements specified by the Directorate General of Shipping and provide a certificate of medical fitness from an approved doctor.

Affiliated institutes admitting foreign students must follow the norms set by the Directorate General of Shipping.

This information must be strictly complied with before admitting foreign students at DGS approved MTIs.

This document was published on 1 June 2023.

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