JEE Main and NEET Examinations to be conducted in September despite Covid-19

The Ministry of Education (MOE), along with the country’s National Testing Agency (NTA) is all set to conduct the highly anticipated JEE Main and NEET examinations in the first half of September. While JEE Main is to be held from 1st to 6th September, NEET is scheduled for 13th of September.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the examinations had been postponed twice to ensure students’ and the concerned officials well being. Though  the threat of the health crisis is far from over, the Government is of the view that any further delay would lead to academic loss for the students; possibly an entire session. The mode of the examination, like previous years, will still be offline. With this in mind, MOE and NTA are leaving no stone unturned in their preparation for the smooth and safe conduct of these exams.  The number of Examination Centers have also been increased from 570 to 660 (in case of JEE Main) and 2456 to 3843 (in case of NEET) to avoid crowding of students.  In addition to adopting measures of social distancing in the examination centers, NTA will also ask aspirants to wear gloves and masks at all times.

Nevertheless, there is a section of candidates who are opposing the conduction of exams in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. They mainly argue that the threat from the virus is still the same , if not more, than  in March when the exams where first postponed. Another point of concern is the greatly reduced operational public transportation that would hinder students from humble background.

Backed by opposition parties and regional leaders, this has fast acquired a political undertone. On 28 August, six ministers from the opposition ruled-state had filed a review petition in the Supreme Court of the country. They sought to challenge the SC’s 17th August decision which rejected the plea to further postpone these exams. In that particular judgment, SC remarked that “We find that there is absolutely no justification in the prayer made for postponement of the examination in question relating to NEET UG-2020 as well as JEE (Main) April, 2020.”  It also stated, “Life has to go on. Life has to move ahead. Precious years of students cannot be wasted.”

Further, quashing the opposition, Ramesh Pokhriyal, Education Minister, told to PTI that,” National Testing Agency (NTA) officials told me that over 7 lakh (7 hundred thousands) candidates have downloaded JEE (Main) admit cards while over 10 lakh (1 million) aspirants have downloaded NEET admit cards. This shows that students want exams be held at any cost.”

Meanwhile, several states like Orissa and Chhattisgarh have agreed to provide transport facilities on the day of exam.