JEE-Advanced 2018: Govt directs IITs to issue supplementary merit list

The Indian Express has first reported on June 12 that, for the first time in seven years, the number of candidates on the merit list is less than twice the number of total seats on offer.

Govt directs IITs to issue supplementary merit list for JEE-Advanced

HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar. The ministry has issued directions to the Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) to release a supplementary merit list for admission this year (Express Photo/Amit Mehra/File)

In an unprecedented move, the HRD Ministry has issued directions to the Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) to release a supplementary merit list for admission this year. The government issued late-night directions on Wednesday to the director of IIT Kanpur, which is the organising institute for JEE-Advanced this year.

The Indian Express has learnt that IIT Kanpur has been asked to release a merit list with the number of candidates, which is twice the number of total seats on offer in each discipline and each category (general and reserved categories). The institute will have to release the supplementary merit list before choice-filling for joint seat allocation for IITs and NITs begins this week.

As reported by this newspaper on Monday, since 2013, when IIT-JEE was renamed JEE-Advanced and the eligibility criteria for the entrance test was tweaked, the number of candidates who qualified the exam has always been at least twice the number of seats on offer. This year, however, the 18,138 students on the merit list are only 1.6 times the total seats, making it the smallest number of qualified candidates since 2012.

Story continues below this ad

Also read | JEE-Advanced results: IITs decide against lowering cut-off — for now

This is the first time that the cut-off marks will be revised after the declaration of results. According to sources, this directive has gone to ensure the government’s policy, that all reserved category seats should be filled, is not compromised.

The IITs had met on Wednesday to discuss concerns whether there are enough qualified candidates to fill all the seats this year, but decided against tweaking the cut-off marks for JEE-Advanced, at that point.

However, now another meeting of the Joint Admission Board or JAB is scheduled to take place today, in wake of government’s late night direction on Wednesday.

Story continues below this ad

In 2015, IIT-Mumbai, the organising institute for JEE-Advanced that year, had lowered the bar after evaluation as an adequate number of aspirants failed to make the cut. But this was done before the declaration of results.

Ritika Chopra

Ritika Chopra, an award-winning journalist with over 17 years of experience, serves as the Chief of the National Bureau (Govt) and National Education Editor at The Indian Express in New Delhi. In her current role, she oversees the newspaper's coverage of government policies and education. Ritika closely tracks the Union Government, focusing on the politically sensitive Election Commission of India and the Education Ministry, and has authored investigative stories that have prompted government responses. Ritika joined The Indian Express in 2015. Previously, she was part of the political bureau at The Economic Times, India’s largest financial daily. Her journalism career began in Kolkata, her birthplace, with the Hindustan Times in 2006 as an intern, before moving to Delhi in 2007. Since then, she has been reporting from the capital on politics, education, social sectors, and the Election Commission of India. ... Read More

India warns of ‘likely humanitarian consequences’ after US H-1B visa fee hike

India1 min ago

India voices concerns over new $100,000 fee for H-1B visa, citing humanitarian impact and family disruptions. Government urges US to address issues, while industry and policymakers study the move for mutual benefits. September 21 deadline for H-1B visa holders to return to US could affect skilled Indian professionals, who make up 72% of beneficiaries.

View all shorts

Live Blog