Bhubaneswar: First-year diploma students in Odisha will now take an annual examination instead of two semester-end examinations, with the state govt approving amendments to the exam rules of the State Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (SCTE&VT). The new pattern will come into effect from the 2026-27 academic session.The skill development and technical education (SDTE) department asked the director of technical education and training-cum-vice-chairman of SCTE&VT on Saturday to incorporate changes into its existing examination rules.Under the earlier system, first-year diploma students appeared for two exams in an academic year, one at the end of the winter semester and another after the summer semester. Under the revised system, they will appear for a single exam at the end of the academic year, tentatively in April or May. The change is limited to first-year students; the existing semester pattern will continue for other years.SCTE&VT officials said the decision to switch to an annual pattern was taken in June this year to reduce the dropout rate among diploma students. The council had subsequently informed affiliated engineering schools and polytechnics about the change and introduced a revised syllabus for first-year diploma engineering courses from the 2026-27 academic session.With the academic session already underway, the department has asked the council to publish the approved amendments in an extraordinary issue of the Odisha Gazette and communicate the revised rules to all affiliated govt and private institutions.In a separate exam-related change approved earlier this year, the govt introduced a penalty for technical institutions found responsible for irregularities during examinations, following adverse observations by flying squads.If a flying squad reports any irregularity against an institution during a semester exam, the council will arrange a re-exam in the affected subject at the nearest govt polytechnic or other institution designated by it.The institution concerned will have to pay a penalty of Rs 50,000, besides the examination form-fill-up fee of Rs 1,100 for each student appearing for the re-exam. The entire cost will have to be borne by the institution, and no amount can be collected from students.