Shillong, May 23: Geology students are reportedly facing a pressing eligibility issue for the IIT JAM 2026 examination.
The concern was flagged by one Tklen Haokip, the founder president, Chartered Institute of Advanced Studies (CIAS) in a letter to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
According to Haokip, students across the country, particularly Geology students of St Anthony’s College, Shillong are facing a serious academic issue as there is a mismatch between the NEP 2020 curriculum structure adopted by universities, including North-Eastern Hill University, and the Minimum Educational Qualifications for Geology admissions prescribed for IIT JAM 2026.
Under the previous educational system, Geology honours students were required to complete two subsidiary subjects—such as physics, chemistry, mathematics, or biology—alongside their core geology studies. However, with the implementation of NEP 2020, NEHU and other universities have shifted to a new curriculum structure, which allows students to select one major and one minor subject, with the remaining credits dedicated to interdisciplinary, vocational, and skill-based courses.
He said consequently students now possess limited flexibility in their subject choices. Despite the nationwide curricular reforms, Haokip said the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have maintained the older eligibility requirements for the IIT JAM geology examination. This has left numerous talented students, who have diligently adhered to the new framework set by NEP 2020, at a disadvantage, rendering them ineligible for a program they are academically qualified for, he added.
According to the letter, several representations have already been submitted to IIT authorities, the Ministry of Education, universities, and colleges, but no concrete clarification or relief has been provided so far. The matter has become urgent with IIT JAM 2026 admission processes and counselling imminent.
Haokip has sought the intervention from the chief minister to facilitate necessary adjustments in eligibility criteria, advocate for fair treatment, and prevent further disadvantages for those who are compliant with the NEP guidelines.
“This is not merely an individual grievance but a national-level issue concerning fairness, equality, and the spirit of educational reform envisioned under NEP 2020, and that timely intervention would provide relief to hundreds of affected students and families,” he concluded.
