JEE and NEET exams to be held as per schedule: Govt sources

Guwahati: Amid a rising furor over conducting JEE and NEET exams amid COVID-19 concerns, it has come to light that the NEET and IIT JEE exams will be held as per schedule. 

According to reports in various sections of the media, the Government shall comply with the Supreme Court's directives and conduct the exams as per schedule.

Reports quoted Government sources as stating that although the situation is not conducive to hold exams due to the ongoing pandemic situation, the exams cannot be put on hold for long. Keeping this in mind, the Government has decided to conduct the exams in the first week of December.

This has come to light amid massive unrest across the country over the holding of these important exams in the midst of the pandemic period that has seen the Government impose several lockdowns to arrest the spread of the coronavirus.

On Monday the Supreme Court had said: "The careers of students cannot be put under jeopardy. Life cannot be stopped. We have to move ahead with all safeguards. Are students ready to waste a whole year? Education should be opened up. Covid may continue for a year more. Are you going to wait another year?"

As per reports in media, many of the students planning to appear for the exams have already downloaded the Admit Cards from the designated websites.

However, the exams are likely to be conducted with strict rules and regulations as prescribed by the Central Government, with the wearing of masks and maintenance of social distancing likely to be made compulsory.

Moreover, thermal screening shall also be arranged at each examination hall for the students.

This development has come to light after BJP MP Subramanian Swamy had urged the Centre to conduct the exams after Diwali owing to the crisis at hand.

Swamy said he has conveyed concerns of students to Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank. "Since the number of new COVID-19 cases have soared to 70,000 per day, it is in the balance of public interest that Education Ministry approaches the CJI court at his home and seek an adjournment to November after Deepavali," Swamy said in his tweet.

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