The Ministry of Education announced a draft reform that would assign a significant weightage to Class 12 board results for NEET and JEE admissions. The proposal, released in early July 2026, is being reviewed by the Prime Minister’s Office and education stakeholders.

The Ministry of Education released a draft policy on 2 July 2026 that would allow board-exam marks to count for a significant portion of the total score used for admissions to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) [1][2]. The proposal is part of a broader review of the national entrance-exam system following recent controversies surrounding the NEET-UG examination earlier in the year [4]. The draft originates from the central government in New Delhi and is intended for implementation across all Indian states and union territories [1][3].

The proposal is being coordinated by the Ministry of Education in conjunction with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), which has publicly called for an overhaul of the high-stakes exam framework [4]. Stakeholders include the Ministry, the PMO, the National Testing Agency (NTA) that conducts NEET and JEE, state education boards, private and public schools, and the millions of students preparing for these entrance tests [1][2][3]. The reform aims to align entrance-exam syllabi with school curricula, reduce the pressure of a single-exam outcome, and address systemic issues such as evaluation errors and paper-leak incidents that have plagued recent test cycles [1][3].

Proposed Reform Details

The draft outlines that Class 12 board examination scores would be normalized and combined with entrance-exam results to produce a composite admission score [1][2][3]. Normalization would involve scaling board marks to a common metric to ensure comparability across different state and national boards [2]. The policy also suggests permitting multiple attempts at the entrance exams, allowing candidates to improve their scores over successive years [1][2]. In addition, the Ministry proposes a shift toward computer-based testing (CBT) for both NEET and JEE, citing the need for greater security and faster result processing [1][2].

The reform is positioned as a response to identified weaknesses in the current single-exam model, including the inability to accommodate variations in student performance due to health, socio-economic, or logistical factors [1][3]. By integrating board results, the government intends to create a more holistic assessment that reflects sustained academic performance throughout the senior secondary year [3]. The draft also references alignment of the entrance-exam syllabi with the NCERT curriculum, which underpins most state and central board examinations [2].

The policy also suggests permitting multiple attempts at the entrance exams, allowing candidates to improve their scores over successive years [1][2].

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Implementation Process and Timeline

The Ministry has indicated that the draft will undergo a public consultation phase lasting 30 days, during which educational institutions, teacher associations, and student bodies may submit feedback [1]. Following the consultation, a revised version is expected to be presented to the Union Cabinet for approval by the end of the fiscal year 2026-27 [2]. If approved, the changes would be operational for the 2028 admission cycle, allowing schools and coaching centers a two-year adjustment period [3]. The NTA has been tasked with developing the technical infrastructure for CBT and for the normalization algorithm that will convert board marks into a comparable scale [1][2].

The PMO’s involvement includes oversight of the policy’s alignment with broader education reforms outlined in the National Education Policy 2020, particularly the emphasis on reducing examination stress and promoting continuous assessment [4]. The Ministry has also scheduled inter-ministerial meetings with the Ministry of Finance to allocate budgetary resources for CBT rollout and for training personnel across testing centers [2].

Impact on Students, Educators, and Institutions

If enacted, the reform would directly affect approximately 1.5 million students who sit for NEET and JEE each year, as their board performance would become a decisive factor in admission outcomes [1][3]. Schools would need to adjust teaching strategies to ensure alignment with the entrance-exam syllabus, potentially reducing the reliance on intensive short-term coaching [2]. Educators may experience a shift toward continuous assessment practices, as board examinations gain heightened significance [3].

Higher education institutions that admit students through NEET and JEE would receive a more diversified applicant profile, reflecting both exam aptitude and sustained academic achievement [1]. The reduction of a single high-stakes exam’s weight could lower stress levels among candidates, according to the Ministry’s internal assessment reports [1][3]. However, the transition may also require institutions to adapt admission software to incorporate composite scoring and to train admission committees on the new evaluation framework [2].

Coaching centers, which currently dominate test preparation markets, may see a contraction in demand for intensive short-term crash courses, as students allocate more study time to board curricula [2]. Conversely, the introduction of multiple attempts and CBT could create new service opportunities, such as online practice platforms tailored to computer-based formats [1].

Key Facts

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Higher education institutions that admit students through NEET and JEE would receive a more diversified applicant profile, reflecting both exam aptitude and sustained academic achievement [1].

What: Ministry of Education proposes a reform that would give significant weightage to Class 12 board exam marks for NEET and JEE admissions.

When: Draft announced 2 July 2026; public consultation slated for 30 days; potential implementation for 2028 admission cycle.

Impact: Students’ board results will influence medical and engineering admissions; schools must align curricula; institutions will adopt composite scoring.