JEE MAIN 2025: Why OBC And EWS Students Are Not Applying

The registration process for the January 2025 session of JEE (Main), the country’s largest engineering entrance exam, has been progressing at a notably slow pace. With less than a week left before the deadline, only 5.1 lakh students have successfully completed their applications, a sharp decline from the 12.2 lakh applications submitted during the same period last year. As the deadline approaches on November 22, experts are expressing concern over the sluggish pace of registrations. Amit Ahuja, a career counselling expert with Allen Career Institute in Kota, highlighted that this year’s application process is moving far slower than expected.

• One of the primary reasons for the decrease in number application is due to challenges faced by students from the OBC (Other Backward Classes) and EWS (Economically Weaker Sections)
• categories – an additional documentation now required as part of their application.
• Applicants from these groups must now provide not only their category certificate but also the certificate’s ID, the date it was issued, and the name of the issuing officer. 
• This added complexity has caused considerable confusion among students, with many struggling to obtain the necessary documents.

Analysis of Low JEE Main 2025 Applications from OBC and EWS Categories

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has reported only 5.10 lakh applications for JEE Main 2025, significantly lower than the 12.21 lakh applications received during the same period last year. A major concern is the low number of applications from students belonging to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) categories.

New Requirements for OBC and EWS Categories

For the first time, OBC and EWS students are required to provide additional details, including:

1. Category certificate ID
2. Date of issue
3. Name of the issuing officer

These requirements may be causing difficulties for OBC and EWS students, leading to a slower application process.

Potential Issues and Concerns

1. Documentation hurdles: The additional documentation requirements may be overwhelming for some students, particularly those from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds.
2. Uncertainty and confusion: The new requirements may create uncertainty and confusion among OBC and EWS students, leading to delays or even abandonment of their applications.
3. Risk of applying under General category: If the requirements are not relaxed, eligible OBC and EWS students may be forced to apply under the General category, potentially leading to discrepancies and complications during the admission process.

Recommendations

1. Simplify documentation process: NTA should consider simplifying the documentation process or providing clear guidelines to ease the burden on OBC and EWS students.
2. Provide timely clarification: NTA should issue timely clarifications and updates to address any confusion or uncertainty among OBC and EWS students.
3. Monitor application trends: NTA should closely monitor application trends and adjust the process as needed to ensure all eligible students, including those from OBC and EWS categories, can apply without hindrance.

By addressing these concerns and simplifying the application process, NTA can encourage more OBC and EWS students to apply for JEE Main 2025, promoting greater diversity and inclusivity in engineering education.

Conclusion

The new documentation requirements for OBC and EWS students in the JEE Main 2025 application process are contributing to a slowdown in registrations, particularly among students from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds. To ensure that these students can apply without facing additional hurdles, the NTA must act quickly to simplify the process, provide clear guidelines, and offer more support where needed. By addressing these issues, the NTA can help ensure a fairer, more inclusive process and prevent a decline in applications from underrepresented groups in engineering education.

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