JEE Main 2020 likely in June says MHRD Minister; delay in academic session too

NEW DELHI: In an interview with Indian Express, the MHRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal stated that JEE Main would be in likelihood be held in June. Reiterating that the safety of the students was of paramount importance, the minister said it is highly unlikely that the exam could be held in the last week of May as mentioned in the NTA notice dated March 27.

When asked about JEE Main and NEET, the minister said that all stakeholders (NTA, IITs, School Boards, other agencies etc.) involved in the logistic operations are being consulted before the decision is made and the new dates announced. In the light of this statement on JEE Main dates, the question does fall on whether JEE Advanced 2020 will be conducted or not. There are reports circulating in the media that the IIT admissions may be on the basis of JEE Main this year.

On a question about semester exams in universities and colleges as well as the admission process, the minister specified that a committee has been set up to look at the all exam related issues and academic calendar. He said that the new academic session is bound to get delayed considering the situation. The final semester exams would be held by the universities only after the reopening. The old batches will have their terminal semester exams after the reopening and classes for the next session would immediately begin. The admission process would begin thereafter and this is expected to last for a month or so.

On the subject of online exams, he said that that a task force under UGC would be looking at all aspects and guidelines will e issued on the basis of its recommendations. He mentioned that the ministry is putting all efforts to reach students who do not have access to digital media. While the Swayam Prabha channel is already beaming content, All India Radio as well as some other strategies are bring looked in to along with the states to ensure that the most vulnerable and marginalized students do not suffer.

He also stated that CBSE will be assessing loss of instructional time to recommend a proportionate reduction in the curriculum for the board exams of 2021. In this regard, the course committees of the board have already initiated work on the syllabi reduction under various scenarios.

On the topic of campus placements, a task force has been set up by the ministry to look at this. In addition, the minister has had meetings with IIT directors to ask them to reach out to the companies asking them to reconsider and not rescind placement offers made to the students.