Govt reviews JEE, NEET difficulty trends

The Centre is considering a review of the difficulty level of major entrance exams like JEE and NEET to ensure they align with the Class 12 curriculum, aiming to reduce students’ reliance on coaching centres, according to sources.

A nine-member expert panel has been set up to examine issues related to coaching, the emergence of ‘dummy schools,’ and the effectiveness and fairness of entrance examinations. The panel, headed by Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi, is analyzing data to determine whether exam difficulty matches the Class 12 syllabus, which forms the basis of these tests. Some parents and coaching faculty have raised concerns that a mismatch increases dependence on coaching.

“Based on the panel’s feedback, the difficulty levels of these exams will be reviewed,” a source said. The committee is also assessing gaps in the schooling system that drive students toward coaching, including limited focus on critical thinking, analytical skills, logical reasoning, and innovation, while rote learning remains widespread.

Another key focus of the panel is evaluating the awareness levels among students and parents about multiple career pathways and the impact of over-reliance on a few elite institutions. The effectiveness of career counselling services in schools and colleges is also under scrutiny, with the aim of strengthening guidance frameworks.

Panel members include the CBSE chairman, joint secretaries from school and higher education departments, representatives from IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, NIT Trichy, NCERT, and principals from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Navodaya Vidyalaya, and private schools.

The move follows complaints about safety lapses, student suicides, fire incidents, and questionable teaching methods in coaching centres. By reviewing exam difficulty and systemic gaps, the government hopes to ease pressure on students and promote a more balanced, curriculum-based approach to competitive exams.