The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the entire schedule of important UG entrance examinations and board exams in India in 2021. In the aftermaths, a decision is still pending regarding the conduct of the remaining sessions of the Joint Entrance Examination 2021. Furthermore, there is widespread uncertainty regarding the conduct of the Class 12 board exams which stands postponed by central and state boards across the country.
The NTA has already conducted the first two sessions of the Joint Entrance Exam (Main) 2021 but the remaining sessions of April and May stand postponed due to the pandemic. While the minimum eligibility criteria for admission to Engineering courses through JEE Main is Class 12 pass, registered students of Central and State Board are at their wit’s end since it is not clear as to whether the board exam will be held or candidates will be promoted without conducting any examination.
The NTA has postponed the April and May sessions of the JEE Main 2021 exam indefinitely. The agency will announce revised dates in due course of time. However, recently, the CBSE has proposed two options to conduct the Class 12 board exams. The second option, for which, a broad consensus is evident, is to conduct Class 12 exams in schools where students are enrolled while the exam duration will be reduced and the pattern of the question paper will be changed. If this option is adopted, then the exam is likely to conducted in July-August 2021 while the result will be released in September 2021.
Based on the aforementioned situation, it is expected that the JEE Main 2021 exam of the April and May sessions may be held in July and August 2021. However, there is yet no certainty as to when the Board exams may be conducted. Union Minister RP Nishank announced on Sunday that a decision will be taken on June 01, 2021, in this regard.
It may be noted that a high profile meeting of central ministers was held on Monday where CBSE proposed two alternatives for conducting the board exams. Although most states were inclined toward the second option, states like Maharashtra and Delhi opposed the decision to conduct Class 12 exams. Such opposing states were asked to come up with their proposal by today i.e., May 25, 2021.
It is evident that such widespread uncertainties are undesirable for the entire student community. However, as the government and concerned education boards review situations before arriving at a final decision, we recommend that students stay calm and focus on their studies. The extended timeline must be utilized in a positive manner to prepare better for the examinations.
