IIT Bombay senate agrees to JEE reforms

In the IIT-Bombay senate meeting on Wednesday, reforming the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) was broadly agreed upon. With recommendations that mainly concern the ambiguity over the minimum required board exam score, the IITB Alumni Association (IITBAA) submitted its survey report on the reformed JEE to the IITB senate.

When the JEE debate began, the IITBAA had started an online poll where students, faculties and alumni could give their opinion. Despite reaching a compromise, the association felt the need to submit its report to the senate.

IITBAA director Bakul Desai said, “No other body can impose its decision on the senate. The report was submitted to let them know the alumni’s opinion.” Apart from the poll results, it also submitted its recommendations. They included: Autonomous IITs that control all aspects of their academics, including the selection process for new students; admissions based on a common entrance exam administered by the IITs; changes in the JEE format to adhere to the above guiding principles.

The poll results attracted 1,800 responses from the alumni and faculty of a fair number of IITs.

It was initiated before the IIT Council meeting on 27th June but voting continued we after the compromise formula was approved. The Joint Board of Admission came up with this formula in June, resolving the row between the IITs and the government.