The basic criterion of scoring at least 75 percent marks in class 12 board exams or ranking among the top 20 percentile in their qualifying examinations for admissions in Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) has been relaxed for this year, Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ announced via Twitter on Friday, 17 July.
“Qualified candidates who have passed class 12 examinations will now be eligible for admissions irrespective of marks obtained,” he further tweeted.
Following a decision by CBSE, ICSE and others to grade students on the basis of board papers already conducted, the Joint Implementation Committee (JIC), which consists of JEE chairpersons from different IITs, had discussed the disruption and change in the marking system. During this meeting, the idea of doing away with the board exam criterion was proposed and discussed.
“There was a consensus that the IITs, instead, should insist on rank holders to have passed their board exams this year,” a JIC member had earlier said, who did not wish to be identified. “This would be a one-time exception.”JIC member to The Indian Express
Explaining the rationale behind the proposal, the JIC member had said that if implemented, the idea of doing away with the board exam criterion would not make much of a difference. The reason was that very few students who are the top scorers in JEE exams score below 75 percent or are not in the top 20 percentile of board examinations.
For the time being, JEE Main 2020 have been postponed and will be held across two shifts from 1-6 September. JEE Advanced, written by top 2,50,000 candidates from JEE Main and the gateway to IITs, will be held on 27 September.
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