Class 12 mark criterion for 2020 may be dropped by the IITs across the country, given that different boards responded differently to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) across the country are considering the option of dropping the criteria for admitting students this year on the basis of their performance in Class 12 exams. The institutes are considering the option, bearing in mind the disruption caused by coronavirus outbreak in the country in the Board Exams 2020.

Several other board exams were either postponed or cancelled this year along with CBSE Board Exams.

Usually, those seeking admission to IITs through the General Category are admitted based on the rank they have secured in JEE Advanced and should be in the top 20 percentile of their Board Results at least 75% or figure.

Students in the SC / ST category should either score at least 65 per cent or meet the top 20 percentile requirements.

The main school boards, including CBSE and CISCE, cancelled their remaining Class 10 and Class 12 exams last month as many states continue to report a record increase in positive cases of coronavirus on most days.

Afterwards, the Boards announced an alternative evaluation scheme for the remaining examinations.

For example, CBSE Results 2020 will be announced on the basis of a special marking scheme which includes awarding the scrapped examination the average marks of the best-performing subjects.

Once the situation becomes normal, those students who are not happy with their CBSE 12th Results 2020 will be given a chance to appear for the pending papers.

A meeting of the Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) held earlier this month discussed the disruption of Class 12 examinations. The JIC is composed of all IIT chairpersons of JEE.

During the meeting, the JEE chairpersons proposed that the Class 12 criterion should be waived for 2020 given that different Boards have responded differently to the Covid outbreak.

“There was a consensus that the IITs, instead, should insist on rank holders to have passed their Board exams this year,” said a JIC member who did not wish to be identified. “This would be a one-time exception,” the member said.

Even in an average year, the Class 12 performance criterion is not a make-or-break criterion for admissions. "There are very few rank holders denied admission each year for either not scoring a minimum mark of 75% or meeting the top 20 percentile cut-off. So, doing away (with this criterion) is not going to make a big difference for one admission cycle, "the member said.

The JIC proposal will only come into effect once it has the approval of the Joint Admission Board (JAB). JAB has as members directors of all IITs, and HRD Ministry representatives. A JAB meeting has still not been called.

JEE Advanced 2020 is set to take place on September 27, 2020.

Read: JEE Advanced 2021 Application Form: Apply at jeeadv.ac.in