Why does cracking JEE Advanced depend on coaching? IIT Kanpur Director calls for a revamp

The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced may undergo changes in the coming years as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) look at ways to reduce dependence on coaching and reconsider aspects of the examination system, IIT Kanpur Director Manindra Agrawal has said.

Agrawal ruled out an immediate overhaul but indicated that a revision could be considered over the next few years. He also confirmed that a possible third attempt for certain candidates is under discussion, although the details remain undecided.

“Not in the immediate future. But yes, in the next few years down the line,” he told indianexpress.com when asked about changes to JEE Advanced.

Agrawal said the examination had become “very coaching dependent” and “needs to be revamped”. Discussions are underway to explore how this reliance can be reduced without undermining the examination's purpose.

The remarks bring renewed attention to questions about whether JEE Advanced, the principal route to traditional undergraduate programs at the IITs, gives students a fair opportunity to demonstrate their abilities regardless of their access to coaching.

JEE Advanced third attempt: Why students want another chance

Candidates can currently take JEE Advanced a maximum of two times in two consecutive years. However, students have been campaigning for an extension of the attempt limit, arguing that illness, accidents, financial constraints and limited exposure to competitive examinations can affect their chances.

A student petition seeking three attempts, or at least two attempts across three consecutive years, has reportedly collected more than 12,000 signatures, according to an aspirant involved in the campaign.

Vivek Kumar (name changed), who is part of the campaign, said many students seeking an additional attempt come from financially disadvantaged backgrounds and have limited access to early preparation.

“Most members of our group come from not very good financial backgrounds. They were not much exposed to JEE,” he said.

Kumar also pointed to candidates who lose an attempt because of circumstances beyond their control, including serious illnesses and accidents. For these students, an additional opportunity could provide another chance to compete for admission.

Another aspirant, Arjun (name changed), said he learned about JEE only after completing his Class 12 board examinations through a distant relative. He subsequently fell ill days before JEE Advanced but appeared for the test despite his condition.

“I am not asking for a third attempt because I want a privilege. I just want a fair chance,” he said.

The students' demands have placed the attempt limit at the center of a broader discussion about access to competitive engineering education and the circumstances that can affect a candidate's performance.

IIT Kanpur Director explains the third-attempt dilemma

Agrawal acknowledged that extending the number of attempts could help some students, particularly those from rural areas who become familiar with JEE only after completing Class 12 or who have not received coaching earlier.

However, he cautioned that allowing another attempt could also encourage many candidates to spend an additional year preparing, often by enrolling in more coaching programs.

“They will waste one more year, they will get more frustrated and they will still do coaching, more coaching, so they will spend more money,” he said.

Agrawal described the question as “a very complex matter” and said the benefits of an additional attempt would need to be weighed against its potential disadvantages.

“There is an upside, there is a downside. You have to balance this,” he said.

A third attempt is being considered, but Agrawal clarified that the proposal is not necessarily for every candidate. The possibility under discussion is a provision for specific cases, although the criteria and implementation have not been finalized.

“It is under discussion. Not a generic third attempt but maybe in some special cases. But exactly how that is possible, we don’t know yet.”

The comments indicate that the current two-attempt rule remains in place for now. Any future change would depend on further discussions about how to identify eligible candidates and balance fairness with the consequences of extending the preparation cycle.

Can JEE Advanced reduce dependence on coaching?

Reducing coaching dependence is another issue Agrawal identified as a reason to reconsider the examination. His remarks suggest that the IITs are examining whether the current format adequately assesses students' abilities when preparation can depend heavily on access to specialized coaching.

The concern is particularly relevant for students who lack the financial resources for coaching or who become aware of the examination late in their school years.

However, changing the exam is not expected to be an immediate process. Agrawal said a revamp could take place over the next few years, without specifying what the revised examination might involve.

The discussion also raises questions about how the IITs can assess academic potential while limiting the advantages associated with intensive coaching. No specific changes to the syllabus, examination pattern or evaluation method were announced in the remarks.

IIT admissions look beyond JEE Advanced

While JEE Advanced is expected to remain the main admission route for traditional undergraduate programs at the IITs, Agrawal said some courses could continue to use alternative selection methods.

“but there will be pockets where we will admit students through different channels.”

One example is the Bachelor of Cybersecurity (B Cyber) program launched this year jointly by IIT Kanpur and IIT Madras. The program did not use JEE Advanced as its admission requirement.

Around 120 candidates were shortlisted for an on-campus hackathon based on their JEE Main scores and their work in cybersecurity. The selection process therefore included an assessment of candidates' practical engagement with the subject rather than relying exclusively on JEE Advanced.

The IITs also have provisions for admitting students through international-level Olympiads. These routes provide alternatives for candidates who demonstrate abilities through other forms of assessment.

Such initiatives suggest that the IITs are experimenting with selection methods tailored to specific academic fields. However, they do not indicate that JEE Advanced will be replaced as the principal route to conventional undergraduate engineering programs.

The broader question is whether different assessment methods can help institutions identify talent that may not be fully reflected in performance on a single high-stakes examination.

IIT Kanpur targets $1 billion for research and campus development

Alongside discussions about admissions and teaching, IIT Kanpur is working to raise $1 billion by March 2029. The institute has already secured commitments of nearly half that target, amounting to ₹4,155 crore, from alumni, donors, corporate partners and the government.

The planned funding will support the development of research facilities, the construction of four new halls of residence and the establishment of a Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing.

The proposed center is intended to provide a shared space for people experiencing mental stress, according to Agrawal. He said the aim is to create an environment where people can gather and feel calmer.

“We want to create a unique place where anybody can come together and sit down. That’s our aim,” he said.

“Anybody who is having some mental stress, just by going, you feel calm,” the IIT Kanpur director said.

Agrawal added that the institute already employs 10 full-time counselors, alongside other experts and professionals. Activities at the new center will be open to everyone.

The Class of 1986, Agrawal's own graduating batch, has pledged ₹11 crore during its 40th-year reunion. The contribution is intended to support the mental health center, an auditorium and a residence tower.

The fundraising initiative forms part of the institute's broader plans to strengthen campus infrastructure, student accommodation, research capacity and mental health support.

IIT Kanpur seeks to make classroom learning more engaging

Agrawal also addressed changes in student learning habits, noting that online videos and artificial intelligence tools are increasingly influencing how students access educational material. Classroom attendance has declined, prompting the institute to consider how teaching can become more engaging.

Rather than making attendance compulsory, IIT Kanpur wants to encourage students to attend classes because they find the experience valuable.

“Instead of forcing them to attend, many students say, it means compulsory learning. But we at IIT Kanpur don’t take that approach,” he said. “We want to create an environment where students want to come to the classroom.”

The approach places greater emphasis on the quality of classroom instruction and students' willingness to participate than on mandatory attendance rules.

It also reflects the wider challenge facing higher education institutions as digital resources give students more ways to access lectures and learning materials outside conventional classrooms.

Hands-on learning could encourage more students to pursue research

Agrawal said most IIT graduates continue to prefer employment after completing their degrees, while comparatively fewer choose research and development (R&D).

He hopes that practical, hands-on learning will encourage more students to explore research by allowing them to develop their own ideas into functional products.

“Create, translate their own ideas into something which is physical and workable. That excitement to invent will hopefully direct many more students to R&D,” he said.

The approach aims to connect academic learning with experimentation and product development, giving students a more direct experience of the process of turning ideas into workable outcomes.

Together, the discussions on JEE Advanced, alternative admissions and classroom learning point to a wider effort to reconsider how the IITs identify talent and prepare students for future careers.

For now, the existing JEE Advanced attempt limit remains unchanged, and no immediate examination overhaul has been announced. Agrawal's remarks, however, indicate that coaching dependence, the possibility of special-case attempts and alternative selection methods will remain part of the debate over the future of IIT admissions.