New Delhi: The question paper for the Joint Entrance Exam (Main) could be designed keeping in mind the reduced syllabus being taught in schools affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in the current session, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ said Thursday.
The minister also said the government will positively consider conducting JEE (Main) four times in 2021, starting from February.
In a live interaction with students on Twitter, Pokhriyal said the government was working on a question paper in line with the CBSE syllabus for Classes 9 to 12, which was reduced upto 30 per cent for the 2020-21 batch.
In July, the CBSE had revised the syllabus for these classes, keeping in mind the loss of academic time that students had to suffer because of the pandemic.
“We are working on how to ask questions as per the reduced syllabus. Because it’s only CBSE that has reduced the syllabus, there are many other boards which have not reduced the syllabus, so we have to keep in mind all of them. Question paper will be designed in such a manner that students who have studied the reduced syllabus will also be able to answer the questions easily,” said Pokhriyal.
Also read: Unhappy with 1-year MBA degree, Modi govt could dilute hard-won autonomy of IIMs
JEE (Main) could be conducted 4 times in 2021
During the interaction, Pokhriyal told students that the government is thinking of increasing the number of attempts for JEE (Main).
“We are working on increasing the number of JEE (Main) attempts. Currently it is three, it could be four also in near future…we are working towards it,” he noted.
In a detailed statement issued to the media later, the ministry said, “In order to provide flexibility and reduce stress, the ministry will positively consider giving option to candidates to appear one/ two/ three/ four times in JEE (Main) 2021 for admission in the coming academic year.”
According to the statement, a suggestion to conduct JEE (Main) four times — in February, March, April and May — in 2021 is being considered.
There is, however, no clarity on the schedule of different other exams yet.
Several students asked the minister about the schedule for CBSE Board exams and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), besides the JEE.
To most questions, Pokhriyal said, “We are thinking about it…we are working on it.”
The live interaction was earlier scheduled to be held on 4 December but was postponed to 10 December. As a result, students were expecting some announcement regarding exam dates but the minister did not make any official announcement.
While the National Testing Agency (NTA) had hinted at the possibility of a slight delay in JEE (Main), the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has not given any clear indication about the board exam schedule so far.
The report has been updated with details from the education ministry’s statement.
Also read: Govt suggests no homework upto Class 2, school bag should weigh 10% of body weight