Recently, eighteen students from 16 states approached the Supreme Court seeking permission for a third attempt in the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced 2025. On the petition, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Center and the Joint Entrance Board (JAB) on March 27 and asked them to respond. Senior advocate Shadan Farasat presented arguments on behalf of the petitioners before a bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih. JAB, which monitors JEE Advanced, has been requested to resolve the issues raised.
The petitioners, who have passed their Class 12 exams in 2023, argue that they should be given a last chance in JEE Main in 2025 but have been made ineligible for JEE Advanced, which will be held on May 18, 2025. The plea, filed by advocate Mrinmoy Chatterjee, points out the disparity between the eligibility rule for JEE Main and JEE Advanced, saying it creates unequal opportunities for those who have passed Class 12 in different years.
The petition also objects to JAB’s last-minute policy change on eligibility for JEE Advanced 2025. First, on November 5, 2024, JAB increased the number of attempts for JEE Advanced from two to three. But this action was withdrawn just 13 days later, on November 18, 2024, reinstating the two-attempt limit. The petitioners termed this change as an “abrupt and arbitrary policy change” that has adversely affected thousands of IIT aspirants.
Further, the petitioners criticised the disparity between the eligibility criteria for JEE Main and JEE Advanced. While JEE Main allows six attempts in three consecutive years, JEE Advanced limits candidates to only two attempts in two consecutive years. The petition condemns this anomaly as “illogical, discriminatory and arbitrary” and seeks a reconsideration of the restrictions.
Background: Controversy Over JEE Advanced 2025 Eligibility
The controversy arose from the decision of IIT Kanpur, the governing body of JEE Advanced, to first increase the limit of attempts to three from November 5, 2024. But then on November 18, 2024, this decision was withdrawn and the limit of two attempts for two consecutive years was restored. The reversal of this decision led to protests among students studying under the new eligibility criteria.
In turn, a group of 22 students approached the Supreme Court, filing a petition against the JAB order. The court, in its January 10 order, upheld the ban on students who appeared for JEE Advanced in 2023 and disqualified them from appearing in 2025. However, those who had registered for a course but withdrew within the short period of relaxation in the policy (November 5-18, 2024) were extended the eligibility to appear in JEE Advanced 2025.
IIT Kanpur has updated its website to reflect these eligibility criteria. The ongoing petition seeks a more equitable approach, advocating for expanding opportunities for all candidates.
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