The HRD Ministry suggested NTA conduct JEE Main 2021 in 11 regional languages

There is some good news for engineering aspirants. All the students planning to appear in the JEE Main 2021 may expect the exam to be taken in 11 regional languages. According to the sources, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has asked the National Testing Agency (NTA) to start making arrangements for the same. However, no official statement by any of the officers has yet been disclosed. It is speculated that this change will result in a significant increase in the number of applicants for the JEE Main 2021 as well.

Starting 2021, NTA is speculated to take the JEE Main 2021 in various regional languages allowing the aspirants to give exams in their regional language. The new regional languages will be Gujarati, Assamese, Bengali, English, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Odia, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. The inclusion of different languages is in line with the previous request to include Bengali as a mode for JEE Main 2021 exam. The Department of Higher Education, West Bengal made the request asking the authorities to grant permission to the JEE aspirants to give the exam in the Bengali language.

Earlier, Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, while enquiring the inclusion of Gujarati, asked the authorities to conduct the paper in the Bengali language as well. NTA clarified that it may allow the JEE Main 2021 test to be conducted in 11 other regional languages as well.

Challenges in changing the medium of language of JEE Main 2021

However, it is difficult to make a quick change in the exam within such short notice, so the change is likely to be working from January 2021. According to one of the senior officials, it is not possible to make changes in the question paper by including all the languages in such a short time.  Also, translating the JEE Main 2021 exam in other languages is not an easy task, it takes time, and no student will get the benefit of this move as till now all have registered for the test. This new move can anyhow be made operational from January 2021 only.

The move will help the JEE aspirants preparing for their JEE Main 2021 to continue their studies in a school in their regional language only rather than shifting to English or Hindi medium after schooling to give the JEE Main which till now is conducted in English, Hindi and Gujarati only.

JEE Main exam is taken to shortlist the qualifying students for B.Tech/B.arch courses offered by various institutes of Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIITs), National Institute of Technology (NITs) and Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs). JEE Main exam is considered as the screening test to get admissions into the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). There are many speculations that MHRD has asked NTA to look for other options as well to offer the JEE and other popular competitive exams in different regional languages so that more students can benefit from this move.

Questioning by experts

While this new decision is getting appreciation from most of the people, JEE aspirants, etc. but experts are questioning the reason behind this move. According to the experts, the diversity of India is essential, and there is no doubt to the fact that all the languages are essential. But the mode of education needs to be universal. By introducing regional languages in popular entrance exams like JEE Main, the problem will not get solved; rather it will become political tactics.

At present, JEE Main is taken in the Gujarati language as well, apart from English and Hindi. Experts believe that since the JEE Main is a preliminary test for JEE Advanced, which is taken either in English and Hindi. So taking the JEE Main 2021 in other regional languages will not help the students, especially the ones whose ultimate target is cracking JEE Advanced.

It was decided by the board that the national level examination that grants admission to NITs and other colleges, to be conducted in English, Hindi, Urdu in addition to other eight regional languages.

JEE Main 2020: Current Status

This year almost 9 to 10 lakh JEE aspirants are waiting desperately to know whether JEE Main 2020 will be delayed further or not? According to the sources, the HRD Ministry is expected to disclose its final decision to the Supreme Court soon. There are higher chances that JEE Main 2020 might get delayed further due to significantly increasing coronavirus cases across the country.

Despite continuous lockdowns, there is no slowdown in the COVID-19 cases, and till now it has crossed 4,70,000 mark as well. So in this present and challenging situation, it would be risky to ask students to appear for the exam. And it will be a challenging task for NTA to take exams across different cities in India and maintain social distancing norms, especially when lakhs of students are expected to appear for this test. Even the parents and students are urging the ministry to delay the test further.

On the other hand, if the exams are postponed further, it will delay the admission process as well. JEE Main is scheduled to be taken tentatively between July 18 to 23, 2020. However, a significant increase in the coronavirus cases across the country might result in postponing JEE Main 2020 until the situation gets controlled.

About JEE Main 2021

JEE Main 2021 is a national level engineering entrance exam which is scheduled to be conducted in January (January Session) & April 2020 for April session. Over 11 lakh aspirants may sit for JEE Main 2021 for admission to NITs, GFTIs, and other colleges. JEE Main 2021 will have 3 papers i.e. B.E./B.Tech, B. Arch & B. Planning. As per reports till date, the exam may be conducted in 11 regional languages.

The COVID-19 pandemic has really disrupted the education calendar this year. JEE Main 2020 along with various other exams are postponed. In such times it is important to strike a balance between preparation and maintaining optimum health. One should be relaxed and must not think about events on which he/she has any control. Meanwhile, JEE aspirants are suggested to keep visiting the official website – https://jeemain.nic.in/ to get more details regarding the JEE Main exam. Stay tuned for any official updates!

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