National Testing Agency (NTA) is planning big to make NEET 2020 a success in line with JEE Main. The medical entrance is slated for September 13, 2020, with increased exam centres across the country and safety protocol in place.

As per records of NTA, 15.97 lakh candidates registered for appearing in NEET 2020 amid the pandemic. NEET will be a pen and paper exam, unlike JEE Main which was conducted online. The exam is finally held in September after undergoing postponement twice. 

NEET-UG was primarily scheduled for May 3 which was postponed to July 26 and then scheduled for September 13, 2020. Meanwhile, NTA held JEE Main 2020 from September 1-6 receiving positive reviews on its arrangements from all corners of the country. The exam was conducted for admissions to B.Tech in 2020 and even B.Arch courses. 

NEET 2020: NTA comes up with a Slew of COVID-19 Safety Protocol

To strictly abide by the social distancing norms of COVID-19, exam centres have been increased to 3,843 which were earlier 2,546. Also, now 12 students will seat in one room, reducing it from 24 as of last year.

As per NTA officials, "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 centres to enable candidates to stand with adequate social distancing while waiting. 

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Candidates have also been issued an advisory guiding them about the 'dos and don'ts' for proper social distancing. We have also written to states governments to extend support in local movement of the candidates so that they are able to reach their examination centres on time.

While all the candidates will be asked to go to the exam centres with masks and sanitisers, once they enter the centre, they will have to use the masks provided by the examination authority. Each candidate will be offered a three-ply mask at the time of entry and are expected to wear the same during the examination in order to avoid any form of unfair means at the time of examination.”

Further NTA has mandated furnishing hand sanitizer at entrances of exam centre and exam hall at all times. Staffs will use barcode readers for NEET 2020 admit cards, replacing manual checking. Increased exam centres, alternate seating arrangements with fewer candidates in one room are some of the plans as well. 

Facilities for Free Coneynace of NEET Aspirants 

State governments of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha assured students of providing transportation. Even alumni and students of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) launched a portal to ferry students to and fro exam centres.

Meanwhile, Kolkata Metro Rail is working on running 66 special trains for NEET candidates on September 13 for an easier commute. Manoj Joshi, General Manager, Metro Railway, "As per the plan, candidates along with guardians will be allowed to board the trains on showing admit cards.”

A deluge of demands for postponing exams amid spiking COVID-19 cases swarmed up that twice led to postponing JEE and NEET. However, the Supreme Court dismissed the plea seeking a postponement of JEE and NEET 2020.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra stated that “life goes on” despite COVID and the apex court cannot put the career of students in danger by interfering with the decision of the NTA.

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