Students could be allowed to have more shots at the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main for selection to engineering courses from next year.

During a virtual interaction with students, education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal promised to consider their demand for an increase in the number of chances from two to four.

“Some students suggested an increase in the number of chances at JEE Main. We will examine this with seriousness. If it is possible, we will take a decision. Your suggestions have strength,” Pokhriyal said.

A media release issued by the education ministry suggested that JEE Main could be held four times from 2021, once a month from February to May.

Now, the entrance exam is held twice — in January and April. The top 2.5 lakh scorers of JEE Main are allowed to take the JEE Advanced, which is conducted by the IITs for selection to BTech courses. The NITs admit students on the basis of the JEE Main score.

The media release said the syllabus for JEE Main 2021 would remain the same as the previous year but question options would be increased. In JEE Main, a student is required to answer 75 questions, 25 each from physics, chemistry and mathematics. The number of questions will be enhanced to 90, 30 from each subject, and the students will be asked to answer 75 questions.

Students have been demanding a reduction in syllabus in the JEE Main and the medical National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has pruned its syllabus by 30 per cent for Classes IX to XII because of difficulty in conducting classes during the pandemic.

The media release said the syllabus for the NEET was being finalised in consultation with the ministry of health and family welfare and the National Medical Commission.

During the interaction with Pokhriyal, students iterated the demand that the CBSE board exams be deferred because of the pandemic. The exams are usually held from mid-February to the third week of April. Some students also demanded that the practical exams in the science subjects for the Classes X and XII board exams be scrapped next year as pupils have not been able to attend practical classes in schools. The minister did not give any assurance on these demands.

Sanjeev Kumar, a parent and property dealer, said later that the exams should be held as usual.

“This year, classes have not been held. Children are depending on private tuition. If the exams are delayed, the tuitions will continue and parents will have to pay till the exams are held. It will be a burden on parents whose income has come down,” Kumar said.

The Mann School principal Srinivasan Sriram said opinion was divided among parents about the timing of the board exams.

“Have we done justice to the extent that the students can be assessed through board exams? Also, has every student across the country been equally treated? I do not think the assessment through board exams this year will reflect the true potential of the child. In the interest of the students, the exams will have to be deferred. Let us first have a few days of school for students.”