CBSE is now juggling between 2 options suggested by it to hold the class 12 boards. Based on one of these 2 options, reports suggest that NEET 2021 can be postponed to September, and JEE Main 2021 April and May attempts can be conducted in July and August respectively.
As per the reports, in the high-level meeting held on Sunday, May 23, for a decision regarding the class 12 boards, CBSE presented 2 options. First, to hold exams from August 1 in 19 major subjects only, marks in minor subjects can be based on the performance of students in major subjects. Second to hold the exams in 2 phases – July 15 to August 1 and August 5-26. States can choose to take the exams in any one phase of their choice depending on the COVID-19 situation in their respective federation.
Many states shall be submitting their decision by today, May 25, 2021, to the ministry of education. This decision shall in turn affect the JEE Main, NEET 2021, and Central Universities Common Entrance Test (CUCET) schedule. Also, many other institutes / organisations are eyeing the final call by the government to proceed ahead.
The final call is expected on June 01, 2021, by the Central Board of Secondary Education.
Now if the majority of the states go with the second option, then the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE Main) 2021 April attempt can be pushed to the second week of July 2021. The May attempt can go as back as August last week or first / second week of September.
Reports also suggest that NTA sources have indicated that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2021 can be held in September in offline mode and the application forms might be available from July 01, 2021.
However, the above is not a final call. The exact decision on JEE Main 2021 and NEET 2021 will depend on the decision finalised for class 12 boards. The official announcements for these exams will be available at nta.ac in, the official website of NTA.
Joint Entrance Examination (JEE Main) 2021 has 2 pending attempts that have been deferred to further notice. These attempts were to be held in April and May. The April attempt application process is over, however, the May attempt application process was supposed to start, when the exams had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 surge.
On the other hand, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2021 was t be held on August 01, 2021. But neither the exams have been postponed, nor the application forms have been released. The exam is going through silent treatment from its conducting body National Testing Agency.
The class 12 boards have a domino effect on all the national-level entrance exams and admissions in the colleges / universities. Hence decision on class 12 boards is crucial. Boards cannot be cancelled as that is not in the interest of the quality education of the nation. Additionally, many admissions and entrances consider class 12 marks as major eligibility criteria.