New Delhi: In a good news for aspirants appearing for National Eligibility-Cum-Entrance Test (NEET), Union Minister for Human Resource Prakash Javadekar on Saturday announced that candidates can now appear for the exam twice a year and the best score will be considered for admission.

The minister further said that National Testing Agency has been tasked to conduct NEET, JEE, NET exams, which until now was being organised by CBSE. Besides, Javadekar made several key announcements. Here are top 10 developments that students must watch out for.

1. Javadekar said the National Eligibility Test (NET) would be conducted in December, the JEE (Mains) would be conducted in January and April, and NEET would be held in February and May.
2. All these exams would be computer-based and that students can practice at home or at authorised computer centres free of cost. The details of such centres would be announced soon.
3. NTA will establish a network of test practice centres for students of rural areas so that everyone will have an opportunity to practice before the exam.
4. Schools/engineering colleges with computer centres would be identified and kept open on Saturday/Sunday starting from 3rd week of August. Any student can use the facility free of charge.
5. Each exam will be conducted on four to five dates.
6. Syllabus, question format, language and fees won't change.
7. Candidates can also appear for JEE (Mains) twice or just once.
8. The examinations will be conducted in online (computer based) mode only, beginning from next exam, which is UGC-NET.
9. These exams will use highly secured IT software and encryption to ensure delivery of tests just in time. This will ensure no leakages and other malpractices.
10. All the above mentioned examinations will be held in existing number of languages.

National Testing Agency (NTA) was approved by the Union Cabinet in November 2017 as an Autonomous and self-sustained premier testing organization to conduct entrance examinations for higher educational Institutions.

The agency will hire experts, researchers, statisticians, psychometricians and education specialists to bring 'qualitative difference' in the examination process. Special 'test item writers' will also be on board. The item writers would be trained to ensure that the quality of questions is according to the test design. The experts, statisticians and item writers/subject matter experts are already identified for being inducted into NTA.

Exams and Tentative Schedule

UGC-NET in Dec 2018: (tentative schedule)
Online submission of application forms: 01.09.2018 to 30.09.2018
Dates of examination: 02.12.2018 to 16.12.2018 (two shifts per day on Saturdays and Sundays)
Declaration of results: Last week of January 2019

JEE (Main) in Jan 2019 and April 2019: tentative schedule
A. Jan 2019 Exam
Online submission of application forms: 01.09.2018 to 30.09.2018
Dates of examination: Between 06.01.2019 to 20.01.2019 (8 different sittings, and candidate can choose any one)
Declaration of results: First week of Feb 2019

B. April 2019 Exam
Online submission of application forms: Second week of Feb 2019
Dates of examination: Between 07.04.2019 to 21.04.2019 (8 different sittings, and candidate can choose any one)
Declaration of results: First week of May 2019
NEET (UG) in Feb 2019 and May 2019
A. Feb 2019 Exam
Online submission of application forms: 01.10.2018 to 31.10.2018
Dates of examination: Between 03.02.2019 to 17.02.2019 (8 different sittings, and candidate can choose any one)
Declaration of results: First week of Mar 2019

B. May 2019 Exam
Online submission of application forms: Second week of Mar 2019
Dates of examination: Between 12.05.2019 to 26.05.2019 (8 different sittings, and candidate can choose any one)
Declaration of results: First week of June 2019

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