IIT/NIT Admission: Is 75% Class 12 Rule Fair After CBSE Answer Sheet Row?
Calls grow to lower IIT/NIT eligibility to 70% amid CBSE answer sheet concerns.
Top Summary
- What happened: The CBSE Class 12 answer sheet controversy has raised questions about the fairness of the 75% eligibility rule for IIT, NIT, and IIIT admissions.
- Why it matters: Concerns about evaluation accuracy are leading to calls for a lower eligibility threshold, impacting students' opportunities.
- What changes for people: Aspirants may see a potential shift in the Class 12 score requirement for JEE Main and Advanced admissions.
- Who is affected: JEE aspirants, parents, career counselors, and educational institutions are all affected by this debate.
CBSE Controversy Fuels Eligibility Debate
The recent CBSE Class 12 answer sheet controversy has reignited the debate regarding the 75% Class 12 eligibility criterion for admissions to IITs, NITs, and IIITs.
The focus has shifted from academic pressure to the reliability of evaluation systems, with students and counselors questioning the current process.
Following allegations of answer sheet mismatches and other issues, many are demanding that the eligibility benchmark be lowered to 70%.
Experts Question the 75% Rule
Career counselors argue that the CBSE answer sheet mismatch episode has shaken student confidence. Issues reported included:
- Portal crashes
- Payment glitches
- Blurred scans
- Re-evaluation issues
Concerns arise that students missing the 75% mark by a small margin may face disproportionate consequences despite strong JEE scores.
Fix the Process, Don't Lower the Bar?
Dr. Saurabh Kumar, Founder & CEO of Shiksha Nation, believes the focus should be on fixing evaluation lapses rather than lowering the eligibility benchmark.
"The 75% rule should not be lowered, but the students hurt by CBSE’s answer sheet mismatch cannot be made to pay the price for an administrative failure,"
he stated.
He suggests CBSE should fast-track re-verification before JoSAA counselling closes and allow provisional counselling participation for students with pending grievances.
Potential Downsides of Lowering the Threshold
Critics argue that the 75% rule ensures a balanced academic approach.
Some academics maintain that the criterion preserves the importance of school education and foundational learning, preventing exclusive focus on entrance coaching.
An alternative route exists: qualifying through the top 20 percentile criterion of respective boards.
Impact on Admission Policy
Currently, there is no official proposal to revise the eligibility rule.
However, the controversy has amplified calls for broader reforms, from evaluation transparency to eligibility flexibility.
Under current norms, General, EWS, and OBC-NCL candidates need at least 75%, while SC, ST, and PwD candidates require 65% in Class 12.
JoSAA Counselling 2026
Admission eligibility through JoSAA counselling remains unchanged for now.
Candidates must have a valid JEE Main or Advanced rank.
JoSAA Counselling 2026 registration and choice filling are expected to begin in the first week of June.
What to Watch Next
The debate over the eligibility criteria is likely to continue as JoSAA counselling progresses. It remains to be seen whether policymakers will address concerns regarding evaluation reliability and potentially revise the 75% rule in the future.