JEE system to continue in 2016

Hyderabad: The system of having JEE (Main) and JEE (Advanced) will continue next year as well for admission into IITs and NITs. IIT Guwahati, which is the organising institute for JEE (Advanced) 2016, launched the exam website and listed JEE (Main) 2016 as one of the eligibility criterion for JEE (Advanced) 2016, which is the current two-step entrance process being followed.

Sources in the Central Seat Allocation Board said the two-step process would continue at least for one more year, and that JEE (Main) will be held next year too. The Union HRD ministry has been mulling major changes to the exam and admission system for IITs and NITs. Scrapping of 40 per cent weightage of Class 1 marks from JEE (Main) and conducting a single entrance exam for admissions to both IITs and NITs are two of the major changes being discussed. The ministry has formed committees to suggest the way ahead on these two issues and the reports are awaited.

Qualification in the JEE Main (2016) is listed as one of the five eligibility criteria though further details are yet to be updated. Even the exam dates for the JEE (Advanced) 2016 and the information brochure haven’t been released. But sources informed that irrespective of the recommendations of the ministry constituted committees, the two-step entrance exam system will continue at least for one more year. The recommendations will only be implemented from 2017. “We are 99 per cent sure that JEE (Main) and Advanced will be conducted in 2016 too. Because whatever report the committee submits for one exam, it is impossible to implement it at this stage for the next year. It can only be implemented from 2017,” reliable sources in CSAB said. But the 40 per cent weightage for Class 12 marks may be done away with.