Naveen Patnaik: Re-evaluate JEE, NEET, UPSC exam patterns to attract merit

The patterns of competitive exams such as National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and the ones under the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) must be re-evaluated, Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik said at the sixth meeting of the governing council of NITI Aayog.

Patnaik said a critical look is needed into these “prestigious and highly sought-after exams” to aim at attracting merit instead of letting students depend on highly paid coaching classes.

“This will truly eliminate merit in the long run and deny justice to lakhs of our children who live in rural areas and don’t have physical or economic access to coaching classes,” said Patnaik.