One Nation One Entrance Exam: NEET, JEE (Main) likely to be merged with CUET, draws mixed reaction

UGC Chairman M Jagadesh Kumar announced that the higher education regulator is planning to implement one entrance one nation exam soon. However, it drew mixed reactions from students, teachers and parents. Read further to know more.

One Nation One entrance exam: NEET, JEE (Main) likely to be merged with CUET, withdraws mixed reaction

With University Grants Commission (UGC) announcing plans to combine the NEET Exam, JEE Main Exam with the CUET exam, many students are now confused or anxious about their future. Especially, all those who will be appearing for these entrance exams next year. The main aim of UGC is to create one entrance exam for students. 

UGC UGC chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar said on Friday that "bringing JEE (Main) and NEET under the larger umbrella of CUET will reduce the burden on students, adding that the idea is in tune with the National Education Policy, 2020. JEE (Main) is the gateway examination for admission to premier engineering institutes in the country and NEET is the entrance test for all undergraduate medical programme."

This announcement brought mixed reactions from students, teachers and parents. While some were happy others found the system to be inappropriate. While speaking on the same, Khayati Sharma, CBSE Class 12th student said, " We choose the subject after 10th on the basis of the career we want to choose ahead in life. Now, if all-important exams are merged into one, then it will be very difficult for us to understand what exactly to focus on."

Another student, who had appeared for CUET 2022 exam said, "the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) has formed a platform through which even those who have not been able to score well in Class 12th can still dream or think of getting a good college of their choice to pursue higher studies. I do welcome UGC thought to merge all the entrance exams into one, to give equal opportunity to each and everyone."

Lakshya Agarwal, a Class 12th student, however, feels that the decisions taken by UGC or NTA in between the academic year are just causing panic and tension amongst the students. He further added that " we don't know how to concentrate on our studies with every some new decision or announcement coming up. Any decision should be taken by the higher authorities should be at the beginning of the academic year, I believe."

Meanwhile, UGC chairman told Indianexpress, “After the introduction of CUET, we now have three major entrance examinations in the country — NEET, JEE and CUET — and most students take at least two of these examinations, and many may even write all three. In NEET, you have Biology, Physics and Chemistry, and in JEE you have Maths, Physics and Chemistry. So, two subjects are anyway common there and the same subjects are also used in CUET for admission in various universities. So, why should we subject the students to multiple entrance examinations."

He also clarified that no decision has been finalised yet. He further said that he wants to ensure that the National Testing Agency (NTA) and all concerned stakeholders are well-prepared before the new common entrance test is launched for students.

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