JEE Main 2019: As per the report by various news media, in spite of a decrease in the total number of candidates appearing for the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) for the January session it has been observed that the number of female candidates has increase. The percentage of female enrolment has increased to 29% this year as compare to 25% last year.
This year approximately 9.65 lakh students have registered for appearing for the JEE Main 2019 exam for January Session. Although last year, the total numbers of applicants were close to 11.5 lakh. Only about 10.4 lakh students appeared in the examination which was held in April 2018, out of which only 24% were girls.
In an attempt to restore gender diversity among engineering colleges in the country, government had issued a directive early this year that, each of these institutes will have to admit at least 14% women by creating supernumerary seats. The plan is to achieve female enrolment of 14% in 2018-19, 17% in 2019-20, and 20% in 2020-21. NITs are also working towards increasing female enrolment in BTech programs at the levels prescribed for IITs.
The Academic Head and Vice-President (JEE and NEET) Gradeup Navin C Joshi said that,
“With such initiatives, the government is paving the roots for female enrolment in BTech programs.”
Earlier the JEE Main was conducted by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). But from 2019 onwards National Testing Agency (NTA) will be conducting the JEE Main twice a year, in January and April. Students have a choice to attempt the exam in either one or both sessions and their best score will be considered final. The Exam will be conducted in an online mode.