Govt looking into suggestions of conducting JEE-Main 4 times from 2021: Education minister

government is examining suggestions about conducting Joint Entrance Examination-Main four times from next year to ensure that candidates do t miss out on opportunities due to clash of examinations or COVID-19 situation, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal said on Thursday.

In a live interaction with students, teachers and parents, Pokhriyal ruled out any reduction in syllabus for engineering entrance exam JEE-Main or medical entrance exam NEET.

" suggestion of Joint Entrance Examination (JEE)-Main 2021 to be held four times in a year will be examined positively, beginning in end of February, reafter in March, April and May-2021, for three to four days during each time.

" syllabus for JEE (Main 2021) will remain same as previous year and a proposal is under examination where students will be given choice to answer 75 questions (25 questions each in Physics, Chemistry and Mamatics) out of 90 questions (30 questions each in Physics, Chemistry and Mamatics)," minister said.

He mentioned that for JEE (Main) 2020, re were 75 questions which h to be answered by candidates (25 questions each in Physics, Chemistry and Mamatics).

Answering a question relating to syllabus and dates of NEET, Pokhriyal asserted that schedule for NEET (UG) 2021 is being finalized in consultation with Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and National Medical Commission (NMC).

" same would be declared in near future. syllabus will remain same as previous year. In terms of mode of conduct of examination, online and offline, health ministry and NMC are being consulted in this regard," he said.

Regarding class 10 and 12 board exams, minister said consultations with stakeholders are in progress for deciding dates of board examinations and it will be anunced soon based on feedback from stakeholders.

" Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is yet to take a decision on dates of conducting board examinations including practical. In case students are t able to do practical in classes before examinations, alternatives to practical examinations will be explored," he said.

While clarifying doubts among students and teachers about deleted portion of class 12, minister said CBSE has alrey uploed revised syllabus on its website.

"Details of deleted portion have been given in a summary form," he said.

CBSE h last week anunced that board exams in 2021 will be in written mode only and t online.

" final decision has been taken regarding dates for conduct of board exams, and consultations with stakeholders are still in process. exams, as and when y are conducted, will be in written mode and t in an online mode. exams will be conducted following all COVID protocols. In case students are t able to do practicals in classes before exams, alternatives to practical exams will have to be explored," a senior board official h said.

Schools across country were closed in March to contain spre of COVID-19 and partially reopened in some states from October 15. However, a few states decided to keep m closed in view of a spike in infections.

board exams that were being conducted in March h to be postponed mid-way. exams were later cancelled, and results were anunced on basis of an alternative assessment scheme.

Competitive exams like JEE and NEET were also postponed twice this year due to COVID-19 pandemic.

re have been demands for postponement of board exams to May in view of continued closure of schools and teaching-learning activities being completely online.

Im Credits: PTI