The first shift of JEE Main 2020 had 524 students registrations, out of which only 305 were present while 224 stayed away. The following shift also saw 292 students present at the centre out of 537 students.

JEE Main 2020 for B.Arch and B.Planning aspirants took place on Tuesday, September 1, 2020, while JEE Main for B.Tech candidates began on September 2 and will continue till September 6.

About 44% of students skipped JEE Main exams from Lucknow district. As per District Magistrate of Lucknow, Abhishek Prakash, sum total of 1065 students was scheduled to attend JEE Main exams on Tuesday.

Earlier years usually observed absenteeism rates of being around 15%-20%, but this year saw a sudden dip. Experts are of the opinion that it is the spiking COVID cases in the city that evoked fear among students. Subsequently, it led to a dip in attendance at JEE Main exams, this year.

Check: JEE Main Cutoff for 2020

Nevertheless, the exam centres were reported of maintaining all social distancing norms from wearing masks, sanitising hands, thermal screening, as officials said.

Even candidates claimed, at the entrance, their hands were sanitised, masks were given followed which temperatures were checked.

This year, UP had the highest number of registrations, that is 1,00,706 for JEE. On Tuesday, the entrance exam was held across 66 centres in the state.

Check: JEE Main 2020 Participating Colleges

National Testing Agency (NTA), the conducting body of JEE has assured all students of maintaining social distancing norms at exam centres and making all possible arrangements to ensure safety in the times of Coronavirus pandemic. 

Students claimed, examiners wore PPE kits, while candidates were made to walk through sanitizing channels and seating arrangements were made keeping sufficient physical distance. 

Students confessed of being initially apprehensive of the situation at exam centres. The prior cases of overcrowding and mismanagement at B.Ed and BHU exams were haunting them. However, prim and proper arrangements at the centres won back their confidence.  

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