“Coronavirus would not go away for at least one year and we can not be in lockdown mode indefinitely”, said IIT Delhi Director while showing concern over the situation. He called on the students to "trust the schools" and take the entrance tests while strictly following the COVID-19 protection guidelines.

Any more delay in the conduct of JEE and NEET entrance exams would have "serious repercussions" not only on the academic calendar but also on the career of bright students, said IIT Delhi Director V Ramgopal Rao.

Rao's comments come in the midst of that clamour to postpone the two vital tests in COVID-19 cases in the midst of the increase.

"The effects of any further postponement of these exams can have serious repercussions for IIT academic calendars and candidates. I don't see how we will run two batches together. It will become a zero academic year for student lakhs. Our academic schedules are still too jammed and have so many other items in common. The delays will affect too many bright students futures.

Also Read: JEE Main 2020: NTA Director-General assures students for “safe and secure” conduct of entrances​

"We've lost six months, already. If we take the exams in September we can at least start the sessions in December at Indian Technology Institutes (could be online). It will also be detrimental and unfair for everyone to tinker with the exam pattern or admission processes in these times, "Rao said in a social media post.

He said coronavirus would not go away for at least one year and we can not be in lockdown mode indefinitely, and he called on the students to "trust the schools" and take the entrance tests while strictly following the COVID-19 protection guidelines.

"COVID will not leave for a further six months to one year. We all need to accustom ourselves to this new normal. The sooner we realize that the better for us all. The last postponement of examinations definitely helped us to prepare ourselves well now. "I feel sad about those serious students who are preparing for these exams. I was getting a lot of emails from them. As if COVID-19 is not sufficient, this uncertainty about the dates of the exam adds further to the students stress levels. I am personally in favour of carrying out these exams by taking all precautions and following social distancing norms. Lockdown isn't COVID solution. Lockdown was needed to get us better prepared, "he said.

The director of IIT also noted that the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) is now held several times a year.

"In the event that this time some students can't write the JEE Main, they can take the exam again after six months. I don't see a reason for worry. As the organizing institute for JEE Advanced, I assure everyone that IITs will do their best to organize the JEE Advanced Exam, "he said.

Rao said they'll also monitor the situation closely and take the necessary steps as necessary. "Candidate health is of utmost concern to us all. We all have kids and we can get in touch with the candidates' parents, "he said.

The JEE Main and the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) will be conducted as scheduled in September, officials of the Ministry of Education said on Tuesday, in the midst of an increasing chorus to postpone the crucial tests in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The JEE Main is scheduled for September 1-6,  2020, but NEET is scheduled for September 13, 2020.

Several opposition leaders in India, including Congressman Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, her Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik and DMK chairman M K Stalin, have requested postponement of the examinations.

Also Read: JEE Advanced 2020: Registrations from September 11; IIT Delhi Releases the Revised Brochure; Check Complete Schedule