UGC considering merging JEE, NEET into CUET; proposes single entrance exam: Report

NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) is considering merging the biggest entrance exams in the country, Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for engineering and National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) for medical with Common University Entrance Test (CUET) UG for university admissions, as per a report by the Times of India.

UGC chairman M Jagadesh Kumar told TOI that under the proposal to merge these exams, students will be able to take one entrance exam instead of appearing for the same four subjects - physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics - in three different exams and choose their field of study.

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The purpose behind the proposal to merge the top three entrance exams is to reduce the stress on students. “The proposal is, can we integrate all these entrance examinations so that our students are not subjected to multiple entrance examinations based on the same knowledge-base? The students should have one single entrance examination, but multiple opportunities to apply among the disciplines,” Kumar was quoted as saying by TOI.

UGC is viewing the move to merge exams from the point of making the logistics process simple for both aspirants as well as the National Testing Agency (NTA). “If you minimise the number of tests, then there is a possibility that from a logistics point of view for NTA, it will become much easier,” UGC chairman added, as per the report.

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Kumar also reportedly added that presently, NTA has to prepare different question paper sets for the three exams, however, with this move, only set will be required.

UGC is having talks with the universities and officials to agree upon the move to have a single exam, that too, twice a year. One entrance exam can be conducted after board exams and second in December, Kumar further said, as per the report.

Assam education minister, Ranoj Pegu, appreciated the move and tweeted, “I appreciate the UGC idea of merging JEE, NEET and CUET. Students will appear in only one examination for multiple choice of carriers. If you can not make it to Medicine or Engineering, you can still make it to other UG courses with the same score of one common entrance. Good idea.”

I appreciate the UGC idea of merging JEE, NEET and CUET. Students will appear only one examination for multiple choice of carriers. If you can not make it to Medicine or Engineering, you can still make it to other UG courses with the same score of one common entrance. Good idea.

— Ranoj Pegu (@ranojpeguassam) August 12, 2022

CUET UG 2022 for admission to general programmes at colleges and universities made its debut this year becoming the second largest entrance exam in the country. The exam, still underway, has been marred by last-minute centre changes, technical glitches, postponement of dates. JEE Main 2022 candidates also faced server issues during both the sessions and demanded a third attempt.

Moreover, NEET UG 2022 exam too witnessed country-wide issues such as Kerala NEET issue wherein female students were asked to remove their innerwear to appear for the exam and students at a Rajasthan exam centre missing the exam due to mix-up in English and Hindi question papers.