Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is considering relaxing the eligibility criterion for JEE Mains, particularly the requirement of 75% in 12th board exams.
“Thank you for your letter dated 2nd December 2022 and 15th December 2022, seeking a one-time exemption to relax the qualifying conditions for all students appearing for the JEE Main and advanced exams in 2023,” the Minister wrote in response to Member of Parliament Karti Chidambaram. The matter has been forwarded to the appropriate department for further action.”
It is worth noting that students all around the country have been urging that the eligibility criteria for JEE Mains 2023 be relaxed. Student representatives have petitioned the Bombay High Court to get the criterion that requires exam candidates to have a minimum of 75% in 12th board exams removed. They are also requesting that the January session of the JEE Mains exam be postponed.
Students allege that the January leg of the exam, which begins on January 24, conflicts with their pre-board exams, causing their board exam preparation to suffer. The petitioners have asked for the exam to be moved after the CBSE board exams in March.
In the next hearing, the Bombay High Court has ordered the petitioners to prove the ‘unfairness of the exam’. On Tuesday, January 10, the court will have another hearing.
MP Chidambaram gave voice to the kids’ concerns by writing to the education minister twice, demanding a one-time exemption of the necessary criterion of 75% in the 12th board exams. The MP stated that many students would be ineligible for the engineering entrance exam owing to factors beyond their control, such as last-minute changes in exam centres and natural disasters.
He wrote, “I would like to bring to your attention concerns raised by students who appeared for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Mains and Advanced in 2022. These aspirants studied hard to secure an admission into India’s leading engineering institutes, however, several hurdles which were completely outside their control, denied them a fair opportunity at the exam.”
Despite the continuing squabble between students and authorities, registration for JEE Mains 2023 remains underway, with the window closing on January 12. The National Testing Agency will hold the January session of the exam on January 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31 across India (NTA).
