Bengaluru JEE Main 2025 aspirants wait in busy roads past entry time, parents ask ‘who is responsible?’

NEW DELHI: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has started conducting the session 1 exams for the Joint Entrance Examination Main (JEE Main 2025) from today. Despite introducing several security measures, Bengaluru aspirants were seen waiting in a long queue outside the exam center past the JEE Mains entry time. Expressing dissatisfaction, parents asked NTA, education ministry, and Karnataka CM, ‘Who is responsible?' JEE Main 2025 January 22 Exams LIVE

The NTA faced several controversies, including paper leak, malpractices, impersonation, and technical glitches, in the previous years. After the NEET fiasco, a high-level committee, set up by the ministry of education as per the Supreme Court direction, recommended using Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs), Jawahar Navodya Vidyalayas (JNVs) and other schools with better infrastructure as the JEE Main exam centres.

Following this, the NTA reduced the number of exam cities from 301 to 284. The number of international exam cities has also been reduced to 15. In the latest update, the NTA announced JEE Main exam centre change for candidates who have opted for Sharjah, UAE due to “unavoidable circumstances”.

Tightening the security, the NTA has introduced biometric registration and Aadhaar-authentication for appearing in the exam. Those candidates who have not registered through Aadhaar have been instructed to reach the exam centre 2 hours prior to the shift timings to complete the frisking and verification process.

Aadhaar-authentication has been introduced to ensure that only registered aspirants sit for the exam, preventing impersonation.

In this regard, the District Magistrate (DM) and Collector of West Tripura held a preparatory meeting on Tuesday to ensure smooth conduct of JEE Mains 2025 exams scheduled from January 22 to 30.

Also read From entry to exit: This is how NTA will conduct JEE Main 2025

'Gross mismanagement' at JEE exam centre

Despite recommendations made by the high-level committee and changes introduced by the NTA, candidates allotted exam centre in Peenya, Bangalore have expressed disappointment and called out “gross mismanagement”.

Tagging the NTA, Karnataka chief minister, and the Union education ministry, a X user wrote: “(JEE Mains 2025 entry) cut-off time is 8.30 am but kids are still waiting at busy road side. Who is responsible for extra stress on the eve of such an important exam in their life?”

The NTA holds JEE exam in 14 exam cities in Karnataka - Ballari(Bellary), Belagavi(Belgaum), Bengaluru, Davanagere, Kalaburagi(Gulbarga), Hassan, Dharwad, Mangaluru(Mangalore), Mysuru(Mysore), Shivamogga(Shimoga), Tumakuru, Chikkamagaluru, Hubballi(Hubli), and Udupi.

In a video shared on social media posts, students can be seen waiting in a line on a busy road with just one minute left for the gates to close.

ETalent exam centre at Peenya, Bengaluru. (Image: X/ @MistryPrema)

Students who were allotted eTalent exam centre were allegedly being allowed inside the exam hall past the entry time.

JEE Main exam centre in Karnataka (Image: X/@MistryPrema)

Candidates in Delhi-NCR faced challenges as the national-capital remained engulfed in dense fog. Reducing visibility and Delhi air quality also posed challenges for JEE Main 2025 aspirants as fights and trains were delayed. Scenes around Ganga International School, New Delhi.

JEE Main Delhi exam centre (Image: Careers360)

Parents of JEE aspirants awaiting outside the JEE Main exam centre in Delhi.

JEE Mains 2025 January 22 shift 1 exam starts. (Source: Careers360)