NEET, JEE Main exams to be conducted twice from next year, says Javedkar

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will replace the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) as the organisation that conducts competitive examinations such as National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and National Eligibility Test (NET), the union minister for human resource development announced on Saturday.

HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said at a press conference that the NEET examination and JEE (Mains) would be held twice a year —February and May for the NEET, and January and April for JEE (Mains)—giving students two chances to take the computer-based tests.

NET, a qualifying test for taking up teaching positions in higher educational institutions in the country, will be the first exam that the newly established body NTA would conduct in December this year.

The NTA will also conduct two other examinations—the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) and Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT). 

The changes are the central government's attempts to make the



examinations "leak-proof".

“Students can take the exams both times, and the best score would be considered for admission,” the minister said.“The exams will be more secure and at par with international norms. There will be no issues of leakage and it would be more student friendly, open and scientific."

Students can go to nearest computer centres from the end of August to prepare for the tests. 

Examinations will be spread over five days, and students can choose the date that suits them best.

Syllabus, question formats, language and fees for the exams will remain unchanged. Exam timetable can be accessed at the ministry’s website, where they will be uploaded.

IITs will continue to conduct Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced).

NEET is the qualifying exam for students to take up an undergraduate medical or dental course in India, while JEE (Mains) qualifies students to take undergraduate in some of the country’s top centrally-funded technical education institutions, such as the elite IITs.