Odisha scraps OJEE; joins nation-level JEE
Scrapping the old state-level Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE), Odisha has now decided to be a part of national-level JEE (Main) 2014 for admission to the state’s technical colleges.
Along with Odisha, Gujarat and Maharashtra have also decided not to hold their state-level joint entrance examinations in engineering from 2014-15. These three states will adopt JEE-Main score to select students for admission to tech schools. Bengal too is expected to adopt it from 2015-16.
While the JEE Main 2014 offline examination is scheduled on April 6, the online would be held on April 9, 11, 12 and 19. According to a press release issued recently by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) candidates seeking admission to institutes in the states, which previously carried out admissions through their own state-level exams, have been asked to fill in the JEE (Main) 2014 application form online.
“After Gujarat, Odisha and Maharashtra have now decided to adopt JEE-Main. These states will no longer conduct their own JEEs. This shows that JEE-Main is gaining acceptance as the national level entrance test in engineering,” informed a senior CBSE official to The Telegraph.
Adding to this, Deva Tripathy, former Odisha JEE chairperson said, “A state level JEE is a huge affair that needs resources, funds and meticulous preparation and safeguards. The state will be relieved of such a task by joining the national entrance. The quality of the national entrance will be better also.”
The step will be beneficial for students as they have to appear for just one entrance now. Also, since state governments reserve 70 per cent seats for students from their respective state, that quota will be protected.
CBSE will issue both national merit list and state merit list for JEE Main results. States have the option to give weightage to school board score. “The students who figure in the state-level merit list and miss out on the national merit list will be eligible for admission in engineering colleges in the concerned state,” informed the press release.
