NEET and JEE Main to be conducted twice a year by NTA instead of CBSE

The Center is considering to conduct the Entrance tests (NEET, JEE Main) for admissions to undergraduate courses in medical and engineering twice a year from 2019.

The government is in the process of setting up a National Testing Agency (NTA) which may start its operations from 2019. The agency will take over all the entrance tests now conducted by CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education). These entrance tests are NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) for MBBS admission, the JEE Main (Joint Entrance Examination Main) for B.Tech courses and the NET (National Eligibility Test) for selecting teachers eligible to be appointed in colleges and universities.

"The NTA (National Testing Agency) will initially conduct those entrance examinations which are currently being conducted by the CBSE ... Other examinations, tests will be taken up gradually after the NTA is fully geared up ... The entrance examinations will be conducted in online mode at least twice a year, giving adequate opportunity to candidates to bring out their best," HRD Minister of State Upendra Kushwaha said in a written answer in the Lok Sabha.

At present all these entrance tests NEET, JEE Main, NET etc. are held once in a year. If the proposal is passed, then from 2019 National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint entrance Examination Main (JEE Main) will be conducted twice a year by NTA instead of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). NTA will also locate the examination centers at sub-district and district levels.

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