JEE-Main to be held four times in 2021; details here

Pokhriyal said students will be given multiple opportunities to appear for the exam and the highest marks will be considered the final score.

This would give a fair chance to candidates who might miss an exam for various reasons, including the severity of COVID-19 infections in their regions.

He added that candidates will get to know and improve upon their mistakes with each attempt.

Pokhriyal said there will be no change in the syllabus, but the question paper pattern will be different.

Of the total 90 questions, candidates will only have to answer 75, he said.

Even if a candidate attempts questions for the other 15 marks, there will be no negative marking, he added. This would help students cope with the reduction in syllabus.

The Education Ministry has made the decision to conduct the exam in four phases after taking suggestions for conducting JEE Main 2021.

Pokhriyal had told students in an online interaction last week that the government was considering the possibility of conducting JEE three or four times a year.

In 2020, JEE Main was held between September 1-6, and JEE Advanced on September 27.

On the subject of Class X and XII Board examinations, Pokhriyal said that talks with stakeholders are currently underway.

He said, "The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is yet to take a decision on the dates of conducting Board examinations including practicals. In case students are not able to do practical in classes before the examinations, alternatives to practical examinations will be explored."