The Week In Education: JEE Main 2021, NEET PG changes, board exams

NEW DELHI: The first of four sessions of the JEE Main 2021 began and ended during the week. Along with the entrance test for BTech programmes, registration also began for a host of entrance exams including the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Postgraduate, or NEET PG, for postgraduate medicine. The paper pattern for it is also changing.

For school exams, Tamil Nadu announced there won’t be any for Classes 9-11 and Delhi Government announced it won’t conduct offline exams till Class 8.

In a meeting of the IIT Council -- the top administrative body of the Indian Institutes of Technology -- the possibility of cutting staff numbers at the IITs was discussed.

In addition, there was a range of stories on education and careers. They are listed at the end.

These were the important developments in education during the week:

JEE Main 2021: February session

The JEE Main 2021 began with the BArch and BPlanning papers being held from the second shift on February 23. From February 24, over 6.5 lakh candidates were registered to write the BTech papers of JEE Main 2020. Unofficial JEE Main 2021 answer keys were released soon after.

UPSC: No extra attempt

The Supreme Court dismissed a plea seeking an extra chance for aspirants who used up their last attempt at writing the exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in 2020.

NEET PG 2021

The National Bureau of Examination notified the details for NEET PG 2021 and included several changes, including changes in NEET PG paper pattern. Registration for the exam also began.

Universities: Opening or not

The Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, re-opened for final-year students on February 22 and in hybrid mode -- a combination of online and offline classes -- amid student protests. In Delhi, Jamia Millia Islamia University saw students protesting demanding reopening.

UGC: Drafting regulations for dual degrees

The University Grants Commission said it has finalised the regulations for offering dual-degree courses in collaboration with foreign universities.

IIT Council and staff members

The participants in the IIT Council meeting on February 22 discussed “rationalization of staff from current standards to a lower number”. The education minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ chairs the council.

Entrance exams

Dates were announced for the CUSAT CAT 2021 or, the Cochin University of Science and Technology Common Admission Test, and for BITS Pilani’s entrance exam, BITSAT 2021. Registration for the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination (WBJEE 2021) began

JNV: Textbooks and tablets

Following a meeting with the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, Pokhriyal announced that JNV students in Classes 6 and above will be given free textbooks and for students in Classes 9 and above, there will be tablets. He also said that the government is considering marshalling CSR funds to improve the schools. Rajasthan will also provide free textbooks and uniforms to students.

Schools reopening, board exams

Haryana reopened schools for Classes 3-5 from February 24. There will be no offline exams till Class 8 for Delhi Government schools and Tamil Nadu chief minister announced that students of Classes 9-11 will be promoted without exams.

Rajasthan board announced the RBSE Classes 10 and 12 board exam schedule and the Jammu and Kashmir Board of Secondary Education (JKBOSE) announced JKBOSE 10th result 2020 Kashmir division. Maharashtra’s school education minister Varsha Gaikwad also said the board exams will be held for Classes 10 and 12.

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