NEW DELHI: Protests by the IIT faculty, and at least one IIT Senate, against the new common entrance examination system notwithstanding, the government is going ahead with preparations to roll out the new look Joint Entrance Examination by 2013.

The human resource development ministry is writing to the Joint Admission Board, which is currently headed by IIT Delhi, to begin the consultation process to decide on the "nature, modalities, and timing" of the JEE-Advanced examination.


The JEE-Advanced is the second part of the two-step common admission test that was agreed to by the IIT Council at the May 28 meeting. Performance in the JEE-Advanced test will be the only criteria, which will be considered for admission to the IITs. As agreed by the IIT Council, performance in the class XII Board examination and JEE-Main will be used like a screening process to shortlist candidates.

The ministry is asking the Joint Admission Board to work out whether they want the test to be an objective or subjective test, the level of control the IIT system wants to retain over administering the test and the level of administrative support required from the CBSE. The Board will also decide on the timing of the test, whether it should be on the same day as the JEE-Main or not. The IITs would like the two exams -JEE Main and Advanced-to be held on separate days.

As far as the ministry is concerned the May 28 decision of joint meeting of the IIT, NIT and IIIT Councils is final, and asking the Board to being work on the examination is the logical next step. The groups to deal with academic issues, and interface have already been set up. Sources said that there hasn't been any communication from the Prime Minister's Office on the new system. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured the IIT Faculty Federation that he would speak with the human resource development minister Kapil Sibal about the objections and concerns raised by them.