What decision will Education Ministry take on JEE Main, JEE Advanced and NEET-UG 2021?

The JEE Main 2021 exams were to be conducted on the dates April 27 to 30 and May 24 to 28. The NEET-UG 2021 examination is currently scheduled for August 1, 2021. JEE Advanced 2021 is scheduled for July 3, 2021. Amid the rising cases in India, subsequent lockdowns and restrictions, the government has postponed JEE Main 2021 for April and May sessions. The Education Ministry has also cancelled the Class 10th Board exams and postponed Class 12 Board exams. But the students are still uncertain about the conduction of their entrance exams; as the current pandemic situation in the country has forced people to stay in, like last year.

Recently, state education secretaries, central government officials and the central education ministry held a high-priority meeting. The aim was to decide on the conduction of the Class 12 board exams. During the meeting, CG also mentioned the conduction of the NEET, JEE Main and JEE Advanced 2021. Rajnath Singh in his statement stated that the priority is to hold “all” exams - which includes the above-mentioned entrance exams.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the meeting. Among others, Minister of Education Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, former HRD Minister and Minister of Women and Child Development Srmiti Z Irani, and former HRD Minister and currently minister of I&B Prakash Javadekar and Minister of State for Education Sanjay Dhotre also attended the meeting.

What decisions will Education Ministry take on JEE Main, JEE Advanced and NEET-UG 2021?

Speculative reports suggest that after the ministry decides the dates of the Class 12 board exams, it will make a final decision on these entrance exams too. The current vaccination drive only supports citizens who are 18+ years of age. Deputy CM of Delhi, Manish Sisodia suggested vaccinating class 12 students and then conducting board exams. Around 8-10 states agreed that students should be vaccinated before conducting any exam. But a majority of states oppose the idea of conducting an exam.

All these entrance exams come after Class 12 exams, thus, a decision on the latter will affect all exams. JEE Main students wait for revised exam dates, registrations for NEET-UG 2021 is yet to begin. Since the latter is scheduled to be held on August 1, the medical entrance test can be postponed too.