Parliamentary Panel Recommends 50% Weightage for Board Marks in NEET and JEE Admissions

The admission process for medical and engineering courses in India may see a major change if a new proposal under review is approved. According to recent reports, Class 12 board exam marks may be given up to 50% weightage in admissions that are currently based mainly on entrance exams such as NEET and JEE. The proposal is being examined as part of wider reforms aimed at reducing students’ dependence on coaching institutes and making the admission process more balanced.

At present, NEET scores are used for admission to medical courses such as MBBS and BDS, while JEE scores are used for admission to engineering and architecture programmes. Board exam marks are mostly considered only for eligibility criteria. However, under the proposed system, a student’s Class 12 board performance and entrance exam score may both be used to prepare the final merit list.

The recommendation is reportedly part of discussions on reforming India’s high-stakes entrance examination system. The move comes after concerns over exam pressure, paper leaks, evaluation issues and the increasing influence of coaching centres. The committee is also said to be exploring other changes, including better alignment of NEET and JEE syllabi with the Class 11 and 12 curriculum, multiple attempts for entrance exams, and a gradual shift towards adaptive computer-based testing.

However, students must note that no final decision has been announced by the government yet. The proposal is still under consideration, and the existing admission rules will continue unless an official notification is issued by the concerned authorities. Students preparing for NEET and JEE are advised to focus on both board exam preparation and entrance exam practice, as strong conceptual clarity in Class 11 and 12 subjects remains important for both formats.

If implemented, this reform could reduce the pressure of a single entrance exam and give more importance to regular school education. At the same time, it may also require a clear and fair normalisation process because different education boards follow different marking patterns. Therefore, the final structure, if approved, will be closely watched by students, parents, schools and coaching institutes across the country.