In his live webinar on Thursday, December 10, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank' did not state categorically there were changes in the syllabus of entrance exams but hinted there may be changes in the way questions are framed. Asked whether the syllabus for exams such as the JEE Main 2021 for engineering or the NEET 2021 for medicine will be reduced because the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has docked its syllabus by 30 per cent, Mr Pokhriyal said that officials are “constantly discussing” the issue.
“We are discussing this constantly,” said Mr. Pokhriyal. “And we are discussing how many questions can be framed in what way that we cover both the boards that have reduced syllabus and those that haven't.” He was speaking at a live webinar organised to address questions from students and parents who posted their queries on social media platforms, tagging them with “#EducationMinisterGoestLive”. With regular teaching disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, several state and central school education boards have reduced their syllabus for the current academic year.
JEE Main 2021 Dates
Mr. Pokhriyal also said the government is also discussing holding JEE Main 2021 even “three or four times” next year in place of the customary two attempts and will also discuss the possibility of holding NEET 2021 online if the students demand.
Exam schedules are yet to be finalised although the Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal assured that the dates for the first attempt of JEE Main 2021 and NEET 2021 will be announced as early as possible and that the exam-conducting body, National Testing Agency, will ensure that the dates do not clash with those of the Class 12 CBSE board exams. Exam officials had earlier told PTI that the first round of JEE Main will likely be held in February 2021 instead of January.
