The Department of Higher Education, under the aegis of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, has undertaken a comprehensive reorganisation of the JEE Apex Board (JAB) responsible for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). This restructuring initiative is aimed at enhancing the efficiency and transparency of the JEE (Main) and JEE (Advanced) examinations, vital for admission to prestigious institutions such as IITs, NITs, and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs). The changes introduced through a recent notification will come into effect from the years 2024 and 2025.

A pivotal modification pertains to the roles and responsibilities assigned to the National Testing Agency (NTA), a key stakeholder in the management of the technological aspects of the examination process. The reconstitution of the JEE Apex Board (JAB) is intended to optimise and streamline the administration of both the JEE (Main) and JEE (Advanced) entrance examinations.

The newly formed JEE Apex Board will now have a dedicated secretariat, graciously provided by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Additionally, the JEE Interface Group, composed of five members representing NTA, IITs, and a senior delegate from the Indian Statistical Institutes (ISI) nominated by the Joint Apex Board, will offer their valuable assistance to JAB in the execution of its mandates.

JAB shall be the ultimate authority responsible for formulating policies, rules, and regulations governing the conduct of JEE (Main). Furthermore, it will collaborate closely with the entity overseeing JEE (Advanced). Administrative functions encompassing financial matters, legal cases, and Right to Information (RTI) affairs will be effectively managed by the Secretariat.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is set to play a pivotal role in providing administrative and logistical support for the nationwide administration of the JEE (Main) examination. The JAB's permanent secretariat, housed within NTA, will harness the existing infrastructure, financial resources, and personnel from the current JEE (Main) unit, with the creation of additional positions as necessary, including the appointment of an Executive Director.

Importantly, the JAB of the National Testing system (JAB-IT) will continue to bear responsibility for the administration of the JEE (Advanced) examination.

Additionally, essential technology-related support and the management of backend operations, including the online submission of application forms, will be furnished by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).

This revised administrative framework has been conceived to instill transparency and efficiency throughout the entire JEE examination process. These changes, executed under the guidance of the Ministry of Education, are poised to contribute significantly to the equitable and seamless execution of entrance examinations and expand opportunities for aspiring students pursuing a career in engineering.