JEE Main 2025: NTA Clarifies Scribe Eligibility for JEE Main 2025 – Who Qualifies and How to Apply | : Valley Vision

JEE Main 2025: The National Testing Agency (NTA) is expected to release the official notification for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2025 in early November, likely in the first week of the month. The notification will outline essential information regarding the examination, including key dates, eligibility requirements, application steps, and the exam syllabus. With millions of aspirants nationwide, JEE Main remains one of the most competitive entrance exams in India, paving the way for admission into top engineering institutions.
Alongside crucial exam details, this year’s JEE Main notification will clarify eligibility criteria and assistance provisions for candidates with disabilities. The National Testing Agency has addressed recent queries on the eligibility and application process for scribe assistance in compliance with government guidelines. This update aims to ensure fair opportunities and support for all candidates, particularly those with benchmark disabilities.
Eligibility Criteria for Scribe Assistance
The guidelines that will govern scribe assistance in JEE Main 2025 stem from key government notifications, particularly from The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016. As per these guidelines, individuals with a “benchmark disability” – defined as a disability of 40% or more – qualify for scribe assistance. This includes disabilities that restrict writing ability, either due to physical limitations, visual impairment, or other specified conditions.
The government notification, published on December 28, 2016, defines a “person with benchmark disability” as someone with “not less than forty percent of a specified disability where specified disability has not been defined in measurable terms.” Additionally, it states that candidates with benchmark disabilities in categories such as blindness, cerebral palsy, or specific locomotor impairments (both arms affected) are automatically eligible for a scribe. For other categories, a medical certification confirming physical limitations in writing is necessary to qualify for a scribe.
Categories of Disability for Scribe Eligibility
The guidelines specify various disabilities for which candidates may be eligible for a scribe:
Visual Impairments: Including total blindness or severe vision impairment.
Locomotor Disabilities: Both arms affected or paralysis-related limitations.
Cerebral Palsy: Affecting motor functions and coordination.
Other Specified Disabilities: Conditions leading to limited writing speed or physical challenges with writing.
In addition to these, candidates with less than 40% disability may also qualify for a scribe if they can provide a certificate from a government medical authority that demonstrates a writing limitation. This certificate should confirm that scribe assistance is essential, and must be issued by a multi-member medical board, which includes specialists such as neurologists, psychologists, or other relevant experts.
Application Process for Scribe Assistance
Candidates eligible for scribe assistance must formally apply for this facility while submitting their JEE Main application. Here’s how they can go about it:
• Documentation: Candidates must gather medical certifications, either as proof of benchmark disability (for those with 40% or more disability) or a detailed writing limitation certification (for those below the benchmark threshold).
• Submission During Application: The relevant documents need to be submitted online along with the JEE Main application form. Candidates can either nominate their own scribe or request that the examination authority provides one.
• Meeting the Scribe: For candidates opting to use a scribe provided by NTA, there will be a meeting scheduled two days prior to the examination. This opportunity allows candidates to verify the suitability of the assigned scribe, which is crucial for building comfort and communication.
Additional Time and Assistance Provisions
In addition to the scribe, the government guidelines mandate compensatory time, referred to as “compensatory time” in NTA’s guidelines, for candidates utilising a scribe. This additional time will amount to 20 minutes for each hour of examination time, meaning that for a three-hour JEE Main paper, eligible candidates will be granted an extra hour. This provision applies to all candidates with benchmark disabilities, irrespective of whether they opt for a scribe.
NTA Clarifies Scribe and Compensatory Time Provisions for JEE Main 2025 PwD Candidates: Read the official notice here
The guidelines also assure candidates with physical impairments access to other facilities, including assistive devices (as required), accessible examination centres, and proper seating arrangements. These arrangements will be specified in the upcoming notification and are aimed at fostering an equitable and inclusive testing environment.
Official Updates and Notification
Aspiring candidates should keep a close watch on the official NTA website, www.nta.ac.in and jeemain.nta.nic.in, for the upcoming JEE Main 2025 notification. All candidates, especially those seeking scribe assistance, are advised to review these guidelines in full to ensure eligibility and compliance with the necessary application procedures.
The expected release of the notification in early November 2024 will provide finalised instructions for candidates, making it essential for prospective applicants to stay informed on the latest updates.