Amid the chorus of postponing the major entrances, National Testing Agency confirmed on Tuesday that they’ll be holding JEE Mains and NEET as scheduled in September.
As per the public notices published by NTA, JEE Main 2020 is scheduled to be conducted from September 1 to September 6 while NEET 2020 is scheduled for September 13, 2020.
Assuring students about the safety measures, NTA said that it will be following all the safety protocols and will strictly ensure adherence to social distancing norms at the centers.
In a statement made by NTA, “The number of examination centers have also been increased from 570 to 660 (for JEE Main) and 2,546 to 3,843 (for NEET). While JEE-Mains is a computer-based test, NEET is a pen-paper test,”.
@PIBHRD pic.twitter.com/uuTsoammO9
— National Testing Agency (@DG_NTA) August 25, 2020
NTA also stated, “Adequate arrangements have also been made outside the examination centers to enable candidates stand with adequate social distancing, while waiting. Candidates have also been issued advisory guiding them about ‘Dos and Don'ts’ for proper social distancing,"
- NTA has released the JEE Main 2020 Admit Card as well as the NEET 2020 Admit Card.
- NTA has ensured more than 99% of the candidates get their first choice of center city in both examinations.
- To meet the social distancing requirements there has been a substantial increase in the number of centers. Number of JEE Main exam centers have been increased from 570 to 660 while for NEET they have increased from 2,546 to 3,843.
- The JEE 2020 would be conducted as a computer-based test while NEET would be a pen-paper test.
- NTA has also increased the number of shifts from 8 to 12.
- The number of candidates per shift has reduced from 1.32 lakh to 85,000
- JEE Main candidates will be seated in alternate seats for JEE while for NEET, the number of candidates per room has been reduced from 24 to 12.
- Candidates’ entry and exit have been staggered to avoid crowds outside the exam center.
- Do’s and Dont’s advisory have been issued to candidates. Proper guidelines have been provided by NTA instructing students to carefully follow all guidelines for their own safety and others.
- NTA has also written to the state governments to extend support in local movement of candidates.
Read COVID-19 Advisory for JEE Main 2020
Also Read COVID-19 Advisory for NEET 2020
Even after NTA’s reassurance to follow all safety protocols in conducting the entrances, students have still constantly been demanding postponement of JEE, NEET 2020. State governments have also been demanding postponement of the exams. Read More.
There have been demands from several opposition parties to postpone JEE Main, NEET 2020. About 4,000 students went on a hunger strike on Sunday demanding deferring the two entrances. Read More
The campaign grew more after the SC dismissed plea to postpone JEE Main, NEET 2020. Stating that precious year of students "cannot be wasted" and life has to go on the apex court said, “We find that there is absolutely no justification in the prayer made for postponement of the examination in question relating to NEET as well as JEE-Mains,".