CBSE and JEE-Main

The JEE-Main is an extension of the AIEEE examination, which was till 2012 the sole basis for admission to the NITs. The AIEEE has been administered by CBSE, and the JEE-Main is also administered by CBSE. Hindi and English are the only two languages in which these two examinations are administered.

The level and pattern of questions of AIEEE/JEE-Main are similar to those of the Class XII examination of CBSE in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Traditionally a large percentage of the candidates of AIEEE/JEE-Main are from CBSE, and their performance is generally better than that of students of other boards. For example, in 2012, about 30% of the AIEEE candidates were from CBSE, while 60% of the students in the top 1% of the AIEEE merit list were from CBSE.

The CBSE Chairman has gone on record asserting that the good performance of students of a board in AIEEE reflects their greater "general ability" in comparison to the students of other boards (see argument given in page 2 of write-up circulated by him). Whether or not one subscribes to this view, it is clear that the unusual level of dominance enjoyed by CBSE students in respect of the AIEEE merit list would automatically reduce, if the NIT Council decision to put 40% weight on Board scores normalized on percentile basis were to be implemented. This does not mean that in that hypothetical scenario, the CBSE students would have smaller representation in the merit list in comparison to other students. The CBSE dominance is likely to continue, by virtue of the 60% weight given to JEE-Main, though the degree of dominance is expected to be less.

However, the above scenario is only hypothetical, as the normalization procedure eventually chosen for 2013 admissions to the NITs is much more complicated than simply putting 40% weight on Board scores normalized on percentile basis. There has been allegation that the chosen procedure unduly favours CBSE students.