The Ministry of Human Resource Development on Tuesday announced the dates for competitive exams that will select candidates for the country’s top engineering and medical colleges.

The National Testing Agency will conduct the Joint Entrance Exam Main 1 and 2, National Eligibility Test, National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, Common Management Admission Test and Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test.

Joint Entrance Exam Main 1 will be conducted between January 6 and 20, while JEE Main 2 will be held between April 6 and 20. The National Eligibility Test for college and university level lectureship will be held from December 9 to 23.

Common Management Admission Test and Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test will be held on January 28, while National Eligibility cum Entrance Test will be conducted on May 5.

All the exams will be computer-based, except the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, which will follow the pen and paper mode.

The ministry has scrapped its decision to conduct NEET twice a year and in the online format, following recommendations from the health ministry. “The change in the NEET exam pattern was on the request of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, who wanted the same pattern followed last year to be maintained,” the National Testing Agency said.

Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar had announced in July that the National Testing Agency would conduct the National Eligibility cum Entrance Examination and Joint Entrance Examination (Main) twice a year.

The National Testing Agency will also set up test practice centres for students of rural area. Around 2,697 schools and engineering colleges with computer centres will be made available on every weekends from September 1 for students to practice taking the tests free of charge. An app is also being developed, which will allow students to find a centre closest to their location.