States have introduced measures to help these showing for the examination. (Representational)
New Delhi:
The Nationwide Eligibility cum Entrance Check (NEET) – for admission to medical programs throughout the nation – will likely be held right this moment. States have introduced particular measures, together with easing of restrictions and transportation. The conduct of the NEET amid the Covid pandemic was challenged by some college students and opposition-ruled states, who argued that holding these exams right now would endanger the lives of scholars. Final month the Supreme Courtroom was petitioned to defer each NEET and the JEE (for admission to IITs) however the court docket mentioned the exams may very well be held with strict restrictions on contact and social distancing. The JEE has already been held and outcomes have been declared. On Wednesday the court docket declined to listen to any additional petitions on deferring NEET.
-
As directed by the highest court docket and centre, the Nationwide Testing Company (NTA), which is answerable for conducting aggressive entrance checks, has launched an in depth checklist of pointers for the examination. These embrace staggered reporting instances and seating to make sure social distancing. College students should additionally put on face masks and gloves and carry their very own hand sanitiser and a water bottle.
-
There will likely be “isolation rooms” for candidates whose physique temperature is above the prescribed restrict. The NTA has additionally sought a self-declaration that claims candidates do not need any signs or undergo from Covid or haven’t been in contact with a Covid-positive particular person.
-
Almost 2.three lakh college students have registered for NEET in Maharashtra alone, which is the state worst-affected by the Covid pandemic. Round 1.67 lakh college students will take the examination in Uttar Pradesh, whereas Karnataka has round 1.19 lakh college students, Tamil Nadu has 1.18 lakh and Kerala 1.16 lakh. Collectively these states account for over 8.57 lakh NEET aspirants. General, greater than 16 lakh college students have registered for this examination.
-
States have introduced measures to help these showing for the examination. Bengal has cancelled the Covid lockdown scheduled for the day and can function particular Metro companies in Kolkata for college kids. Punjab has lifted its weekend curfew, though non-essential companies will stay closed. The 2 states, mixed, have practically 90,000 aspirants.
-
Odisha has introduced free transportation and lodging for candidates needing to journey lengthy distances to jot down the examination. Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh have additionally promised help to college students travelling to sit down for the NEET examination. In Mumbai, the Railways will run particular trains to ferry candidates and their mother and father. In Bihar too particular trains – 20 of them – will likely be operated.
-
Two Tamil Nadu NEET candidates died by suicide on Saturday, state police mentioned. One pupil was the son of a scrap service provider from Dharmapuri, who sat for the examination final yr however did not clear it. The opposite was a 19-year-old lady from Madurai who was on the waitlist after sitting for the examination final yr. On Wednesday a 3rd pupil – a 19-year-old boy from the state’s Ariyalur district – died by suicide after failing to clear the examination in two earlier makes an attempt.
-
Opposition leaders, together with Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Maharashtra cupboard minister Aaditya Thackeray and DMK chief MK Stalin had requested the federal government to rethink holding the JEE and NEET exams throughout the pandemic. Opposition chief ministers, together with Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee, who mentioned states had been being “bulldozed” within the title of federalism, approached the highest court docket, however had been turned down.
-
On September 1, the primary day of the JEE, the attendance fee in UP’s Lucknow was under 60 per cent. It was round 25 per cent in Bengal, Ms Banerjee claimed, with a number of college students complaining of difficulties in touring to their examination centres. In Gujarat, round 45 per cent of pupil skipped the primary day, the state authorities mentioned.
-
On Saturday night, with hours to go for the examination, #BanNEET and #NEETisSocial_Injustice started trending on Twitter.
-
Final month the Supreme Courtroom mentioned “careers of scholars can’t be put beneath jeopardy” and rejected a petition by 11 college students to postpone each the JEE and the NEET. “Life can’t be stopped. We’ve got to maneuver forward with safeguards and all… Are college students able to waste one complete yr? Covid might proceed for a yr extra,” the court docket mentioned.
