Govt Panel Flags School Curriculum And NEET-JEE Gap, Suggests 6-Month Break, Two Exams A Year

Last Updated:August 27, 2026, 11:06 IST

The panel suggested greater alignment among different school boards so that students have a more similar academic foundation across the country.

A govt panel found that both JEE-NEET have been testing students at a level higher than their overall preparedness. (AI Image)

Lakhs of class 12 students take the medical entrance exam, NEET-UG and the engineering exam, JEE, every year. A lot of students among them opt for private coaching to help them prepare to crack the exam. However, the challenge may not be a lack of effort but a gap between school education and what competitive exams demand. A government panel has found that both exams have been testing students at a level higher than their overall preparedness, with NEET Physics emerging as a major concern.

The committee studied NEET-UG question papers from 2023, 2024 and 2025 and found that the exam was consistently more difficult than the level at which most candidates were prepared in school. Physics was found to be particularly difficult in all three years.

The panel noted that Physics was relatively tougher than Biology, meaning performance in the subject could have a significant impact on a student’s overall score and rank, reported The Economic Times. This matters in NEET, where even a difference of a few marks can lead to a major change in rank.

The committee also examined 10 shifts of JEE 2025 held on January 22, 23, 24, 28 and 29. It found a similar pattern: the questions were generally more difficult than the level at which most students were prepared to perform. Most candidates scored towards the lower end, while only a small number secured very high marks.

According to the panel, the findings point to a wider gap between school curricula and competitive examinations. NEET and JEE increasingly test conceptual understanding, application and problem-solving skills that may not always be developed through regular classroom teaching.

What are the committee’s suggestions

To address this, the committee has recommended bringing NCERT and board curricula closer to NEET and JEE requirements. It has also suggested greater alignment among different school boards so that students have a more similar academic foundation across the country.

The panel has further proposed a gap of at least six months between board exams and entrance tests and suggested conducting entrance examinations at least twice a year.

The report comes as the Centre considers a free online coaching programme. However, the panel’s broader message is that reducing dependence on private coaching will require changes in school curriculum as well as that of entrance exams’.

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Could these suggestions reduce reliance on private coaching?

Suggestions that could reduce reliance on private coaching include aligning school curricula more closely with entrance exams, making board exams more reliable, and designing entrance exams that are closer to what students learn in school. Other measures involve giving Class 12 board examination scores a 50% weightage in admissions, offering multiple examination attempts annually, and introducing stronger measures to protect students’ well-being.

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