With the government expressing concern that the joint entrance examination for admission to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) sometimes has degree-level questions that a Class 12 student may find hard to solve, the IITs have assured the government that the questions will be of Class 12 level.

Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani said this on Friday, at a press conference to mark the completion of the government’s second year in power.

She added that such a change would help students who had not undergone coaching at institutes for admission to IITs.

IIT Pal portal

Ms. Irani said the Ministry had talked to the IIT Council about the problems faced by students, like transition to English for students who have had their education in an Indian language.

She said an IIT Pal portal and mobile app was on the cards to help students.

These would make available question papers of IITs and also have lectures by renowned professors to help aspirants.

School fees

Ms. Irani also said, in reply to a question, that the Ministry had, through the Central Board of Secondary Education, written to the schools that the parent-teacher associations should be taken into confidence before any hike in fees.

Asked about the recommendations of a report submitted by a committee headed by former Cabinet Secretary T.S.R. Subramanian on the new education policy, Ms. Irani refused to divulge details.

The report on evolution of a National Education Policy will be made public only after its recommendations are shared with States, she said, in reply to a question.

Asked about reports that Mr. Subramanian had written to the Ministry pressing it to make the contents of the report public – and that he would himself make it public otherwise – the HRD Minister said: “This education policy will not become a legacy of one individual who seeks a headline.”