JEE Main 2020 and NEET: NTA Rules Out Postponement, More Notable Personalities Side With Students

JEE Main 2020 and NEET will be held as per schedule from 1 to 6 September 2020, and 13 September 2020, respectively, said the National Testing Agency (NTA) thus ruling out any further postponement of exams. Through a fresh circular, NTA said that JEE Main 2020 and NEET 2020 would be conducted by taking all the necessary precautions.

“In order to ensure proper social distancing inside the examination halls, the candidates will be seated in alternate seats in case of JEE (Main). In the case of NEET (UG), the number of candidates per room has been reduced from earlier 24 to 12, now. For ensuring social distancing outside the examination hall, the entry and exit of candidates have been staggered. Adequate arrangements have also been made outside the examination centers to enable candidates stand with adequate social distancing, while waiting,” said NTA.

However, the postpone JEE Main 2020 and NEET 2020 chorus has now grown louder with more notable persons joining the cause. The latest to join the bandwagon is world-renowned climate and environmental activist Greta Thunberg. “It’s deeply unfair that students of India are asked to sit national exams during the Covid-19 pandemic and while millions have also been impacted by the extreme floods. I stand with their call to postpone JEE Main 2020 and NEET in COVID,” tweeted Greta.

Famous Indian celebrities have also been requesting the government to postpone the examinations “It's my request to the government of India, to postpone the NEET JEE Main 2020 exams in the current situation of the country! In the given COVID19 situation, we should care utmost and not risk the lives of students!” tweeted actor Sonu Sood.

Also, famous Novelist Chetan Bhagat has also raised his voice for the cause. “I think a vaccine is round the corner and expected in a few months. Maybe the NEET and JEE could be postponed until then and see the situation in early 2021. Entrance exams cause enough anxiety anyway, adding COVID anxiety to it is not necessary,” he said.

8.58 lakh and 15.97 lakh candidates have registered for JEE Main 2020 and NEET 2020, respectively. JEE Main is a Computer Based Test (CBT) and NEET is a pen paper-based test.