NEW DELHI: In order to streamline the conduct of competitive examinations and avoid last-minute confusion, the government plans to have a fixed calendar for undergraduate admission tests like the joint entrance examination (JEE-Main), national eligibility-cum entrance test (NEET-UG) and common university entrance test (CUET-UG) from 2023. The ministry of education is likely to make an announcement to streamline the exam schedule for admissions to engineering, medical and undergraduate colleges this week.
The National Testing Agency (NTA), which held back the notification for JEE (Main) January exams, is also expected to come up with application and exam dates this week.
According to sources in the University Grants Commission, a committee is working on the fixed exam calendar. Officials in the know said the standardised calendar will help aspirants prepare better for different exams.
The schedule of the competitive tests was disrupted since the outbreak of the Covid-9 pandemic in 2020.
“The JEE (Main) dates would be in mid-January and April, while the CUET-UG is likely to be held between the third week of April and first week of May. NEET-UG would continue to be held on the first Sunday of May. The exact dates would be notified separately closer to the exams. The calendar is also likely to announce the probable period of application process,” an official said.
While a section of JEE (Main) and NEET-UG aspirants are demanding that the two engineering entrance tests be conducted in April and May and the medical entrance test in June, officials said this would again push the new academic session beyond August.
“If the first JEE (Main) is conducted in April, the aspirants, many of whom take all the three exams, would be appearing for back-to-back exams without any gaps. Also the idea of conducting the exam twice is to give an opportunity to improve as well as to ensure that in case a candidate is unable to appear in one due to various reasons, s/he will get some time to prepare. Back-to-back exams won’t serve the purpose,” said the official.
While the notification for JEE (Main)-January is likely this week, the notifications for the other exams are expected to be issued around March and April, respectively.
