CBSE Board Exam 2021: Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ on Thursday interacted with the students via webinar and addressed their concerns regarding upcoming board and competitive exams. There were concerns regarding the schedule and conduct of JEE, NEET, CBSE, and other board examinations in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Students joined the webinar and interacted with the minister on his Twitter handle @DrRPNishank and his official Facebook page – Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank using the hashtag #EducationMinisterGoesLive.

Watch the webinar LIVE here:

Follow updates from the #EducationMinisterGoesLive webinar here

“There is no plan to cancel NEET 2021”: Education Minister In Webinar

Putting an end to speculation regarding the conduct of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET 2021), Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ today said that there is no plan to cancel the all-India Medical entrance exam. 

NEET 2021: Online or Offline?

“We’ve conducted NEET in offline mode till now…but we will take it into consideration if students want online NEET exam,” the minister said.  

“No Plan To Cancel NEET 2021”

“There is no plan to cancel NEET 2021,” Mr. Pokhriyal said.

“We postponed NEET thrice in 2020 and gave students an opportunity to change their exam centers..we could have canceled the exam but it would have been a great loss for students and the country,” the minister said.

On multiple attempts for JEE Main

Mr. Pokhriyal said that the ministry is considering if JEE Main can be held up to four times. 

On JEE Main 2021 Syllabus

Mr. Pokhriyal said that while many boards have reduced syllabus, some state boards have decided not to. “We are discussing on the syllabus of JEE Main 2021 so that students from all boards can participate”.

We conducted NEET — the biggest exam in the world — amid a pandemic. If safety guidelines are followed properly, no student will get infected, Mr. Ramesh Pokhriyal said. 

On new exam pattern and postponement of the exam

Answering a student who asked for more time to prepare for board exams, the minister said, “we will ensure that you get enough time for preparation”. 

On Postponement of CBSE Board Exam 2021 and syllabus reduction

In response to a student who asked for a reduction of 10-20 percent syllabus, Mr. Pokhriyal said that CBSE has already reduced the syllabus by 30 percent. If the situation remains the same, that the exams have to be postponed, we will make a decision then. 

On CBSSE Practical Exams

Answering a question, Mr. Pokhriyal said that if students can’t go to schools for lab-related works, it will not be possible to conduct exams. “We will discuss in this regard,” he said. 

“Oxford University recently said that NEP will initiate the revival of India as Vishwa Guru, which was a knowledge hub in ancient times” 

National Test Abhyas app helped students during the pandemic

Mr. Pokhriyal said that the National Test Abhyas app developed by the NTA helped students to prepare for JEE Main 2020 and NEET 2020. 

Guidelines were followed

Election Commission of India followed the protocols employed for JEE Main 2020 and NEET 2020 to hold elections in Bihar, Mr. Pokhriyal said. The minister said that number of exam centers was increased and students were given the opportunity to change their exam centers. 

We conducted JEE, NEET exams in time

“We conducted JEE, NEET exams, keeping in mind that a precious year of students does not get wasted. During COVID-19, NEET proved to be the biggest exam conducted in the world”.  

“Students will return to school soon”

Mr. Pokhriyal said that students will soon return to school as the COVID-19 situation is improving. So far, 17 states have decided to reopen schools, Mr. Pokhriyal said. 

Education Minister congratulates ministers, officials for successfully conducting board and competitive exams in 2020 amid the ongoing pandemic. 

Postpone Board Exams “At Least Till May”

Students across the country, who will appear in CBSE and other board exams are asking the minister to postpone exams at least till May.

Online classes

A Twitter user wrote, “#EducationMinisterGoesLive Please postpone the board examinations to May 2021. The quality of the online classes makes us unable to prepare that well and we truly need some more time. Please try to understand our situation”.

Conduct Online CBSE Exams, Reduce Syllabus’

Though CBSE officials have clarified that board exams will be offline, students are demanding an offline exam based on the reduced syllabus.

JEE Main 2021 likely in February

An official earlier told PTI that the first exam of JEE Main 2021 will be held in February instead of January. 

Third Attempt For JEE Advanced

Some students have also asked for a third attempt of the IIT admission test– JEE advanced.

“Please give third chance to droppers to appear in Jee Advance 2021. The pandemic caused a lot of stress and disturbance in studies,” a student said. 

On JEE Main 2021, NEET 2021

Students have asked the Education Minister to announce NEET 2021 and JEE Main 2021 date and syllabus. 

About JEE Main 2021 and NEET 2021 syllabus, a student asked: “Please tell the students about the jee and neet 2021 syllabus as we are facing problems in completing the syllabus in the given time please disclose the official syllabus on http://nta.nic.in as soon as possible.”

“Make A Decision Soon”: Students

Students have asked officials to make a decision on CBSE board exam 2021. The board is yet to announce when the exams will be held but said that it will be held offline.

What Students Are Asking?

Majority of students want to know when and how exams will be held next year.