Amid all the concerns regarding conducting the JEE Main and NEET 2020 exams with safety, the state governments are gearing up for the tests. Adhering to the guidelines provided by the Government of India and NTA, the two entrances are scheduled to be conducted in September.

JEE Main 2020 is scheduled to be conducted from September 01 to September 06 while NEET 2020 is scheduled on September 13, 2020.

Download JEE Main 2020 Admit Card.
Download NEET 2020 Admit Card.

Centers in Ranchi prepare for JEE Main 2020

Exam center in Ranchi made all the necessary arrangements to hold JEE Main 2020 starting from September 01 to September 06, 2020. The center made all the arrangements to hold the exams following social distancing norms, hand sanitizers and thermal screening. 

The center has made white marks on the path outside the center so that students ensure social distance at all times. Posters listing health measures such as washing hands, use face masks, and social distancing.

Chattisgarh government to provide transportation to JEE & NEET aspirants

Chattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel has asked all the district collectors to make proper transport arrangements for JEE Main and NEET aspirants to reach the exam centers and also their return. Based on the number of candidates, arrangements of buses, minibuses, jeeps, etc. will be ensured. The transport facility would be free. 

District Collectors will be appointing District Nodal Officers for this purpose along with coordinating with Regional Transport Office (RTO) and District Transport Office (DTO). Since the buses are no currently operational in the state due to COVID-19 lockdown, therefore immediate arrangements are being made.  

In a tweet made by the CM, he also notified that a parent would also be allowed to travel along with female students. Mobile numbers of nodal officers would soon be made public so that students can register themselves for the transport facility. 

About 13,500 students are supposed to be appearing for the exam at five centers in the state. 

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Approves Holding of JEE, NEET in Delhi

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has permitted the holding of JEE and NEET in the city. A meeting was by Delhi Disaster Management Authority where a proposal for holding JEE and NEET was put forth. Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal were also present in that meeting. 

Where the Delhi government was in the favour of not holding the examinations due to safety issues, Lieutenant Governor overruled the suggestion and permitted holding of the examination. Read More Details Here

Jharkhand reopens hotels and lodges, Allows public transport given JEE and NEET 2020

For a month till September 30, the Jharkhand government has allowed reopening of hotels, lodges and restaurants. The state has also allowed public transport in view of the JEE and NEET 2020 candidates. 

In a notification issued on late Friday night, the government under “Unlock 4” announced these notifications. However, as per the directive issued by Disaster Management Act by Chief Secretary Sukhdev Singh, the lockdown has been extended in the state till September 30. 

The details were made public through a tweet with guidelines for ‘Unlock 4’ in the state. Chief Minister Hemant Soren said that examinees living in containment zones would be allowed to travel to their test center and their admit cards would be deemed as ‘movement permits’.  

Karnataka gears for 40,000 students for JEE Main and about 120,000 for NEET

Karnataka is all geared for the 40,000 students who are expected to appear for the JEE Main 2020. The exams are planned to be conducted at 33 JEE Main Exam Centers in two shifts, depending on the optional subject.

Each JEE Main Exam Center would be catering to 250 students. Only one center in Bengaluru will be holding more number of candidates with 400 students.

Under normal circumstances, this particular center in Bengaluru holds 1,200 students. Bengaluru would alone be holding 25,000 JEE Main candidates out of a total of 40,000 in the state.

Students would be provided staggered entry time that would start at 7:00 a.m. for the shift beginning at 10 a.m. All the observers for the exam are professors from the colleges and representatives of TCS.

As far as NEET 2020 is concerned, Karnataka would be holding about 119,587 students at 298 centers. According to an Annexure published by NTA with the state-wise distribution of candidates and center, Karnataka held 115,882 students at 194 centers. An increase in NEET 2020 Exam centers has been done in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Officials are concerned about only one center that is going to hold 750 NEET-UG candidates. According to the officials even though the center has an ample number of halls to accommodate students, the concern is over toilet breaks.

According to one of the center’s officials, “The concerns are over toilet breaks. Even though the number of halls is more, toilets are not as many. How do we know how many students are there in the toilet at a time when they walk out of various halls? Also, students are asked to enter at 11 am for the 2 pm-5 pm exam. What about lunch? We are also worried about personnel employed for frisking students who are outsourced. How do we ensure they are COVID negative?"

Other steps taken include:

  • Only one student on one bench would be allowed.
  • Not more than 12 candidates in a room
  • Students are allowed to carry their transparent water bottles. 
  • Diabetic patients can carry their kit. 
  • Frisking will be done keeping in mind all the social distancing norms.
  • Thumb impressions were replaced with a bar code on the hall tickets.

In a tweet made by Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, Dr. Ashwathnarayan C. N. he stated that the state has successfully conducted CETs and other exams and is prepared to hold JEE and NEET that have lesser number of candidates.

Odisha government to lift lockdown in seven exam cities

The government of Odisha has raised the bi-weekly shut down in seven cities for smooth travel for candidates to their exam center. 

At present, there is a bi-weekly shutdown in four districts- Cuttack, Khurdha, Ganjan and Gajapati and Rourkela town. This is to stem the spread of COVID-19. 

Check COVID-19 Advisory for NEET 2020.

The notification released also stated that students, their guardian and staff involved in the conduct of the exam would be allowed to travel from their place of residence to the exam centers. As a valid movement passes throughout the state, candidates are supposed to carry the admit card and any other valid document while the examination personnel needs to carry their document of employment as a staff for JEE or NEET. 

The notification came after Chief Secretary AK Tripathy had announced that the state government will provide free transportation and accommodation for students supposed to appear for JEE Main and NEET 2020.

Skill Development Secretary Sanjay Singh said that the principal of one of the ITI in each district would act as the nodal officer who can be contacted for availing the facilities of transportation and accommodation for JEE purposes. 

The notification released also contains COVID-19 safety protocols. SRC PK Jena asked examination organizers to ensure all safety protocols relating to social distancing and safety.

  • Physical distancing, mask-wearing, no spitting in public areas, personal hygiene and sanitization should be duly maintained at all times.
  • The district authorities would maintain the same outside the center. 
  • Students availing the free transport facility being provided by the state government need to register beforehand. 

The Chief Secretary said that there would be approximately 37,000 students appearing for the exams at 27 centers across seven towns. 

Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Naveen Patnaik has also asked his party MLA’s to extend their help to JEE Main and NEET candidates from their constituency in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and flood situation in parts of Odisha.

Through a video conferencing with the Party MLA’s, he said, “ At a time when Odisha is facing two major crises of COVID-19 pandemic and flood, the students who are the future of society need our utmost support. So, I urge you to provide all kinds of support to the JEE and NEET aspirants in your respective constituencies.” 

Although the state has geared up for JEE and NEET 2020 entrances, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is one of the CMs who sent a letter seeking deferring of the entrances. Amid COVID-19 fears, Odisha CM wrote to Union Education Minister seeking postponement of JEE, NEET 2020 on August 25, 2020 and also spoke to PMO requesting the same. Check Details Here.

MHA Unlock 4.0 guidelines for JEE, NEET 2020

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has released guidelines for ‘Unlock 4.0’ for JEE and NEET aspirants. The key guidelines for ‘Unlock 4.0’ for JEE and NEET candidates include:

  • Metro rail would be functional from September 07, 2020 in a graded manner.
  • No restrictions on inter-state and intra-state travel.
  • Lockdown would be enforced in the containment zone however, JEE and NEET aspirants can use their admit cards as passes for travel.

Madhya Pradesh to provide free transport for JEE, NEET aspirants

Madhya Pradesh is one of the first few states to assure students about the preparations regarding JEE and NEET exams. Madhya Pradesh government will be provided students with free bus services form the District Center. 

Earlier on Thursday, Home Minister of the Government of Madhya Pradesh, Narottam Mishra had assured the state to be ready to hold the JEE Main and NEET 2020 exams. 

Read Madhya Pradesh Government to hold JEE Main and NEET 2020.

Hyderabad is also ready to hold JEE Main 2020 for 67,319 candidates at 27 centers in the state.

Even IIT alumni are helping students reach their exam centers through a portal. IIT alumni have created a portal ‘eduride’ a dedicated portal where students can connect with people who are willing to help them with a ride to their exam center. Read More