New Delhi: The Union government has clarified that medical and engineering entrance exams, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) will happen as scheduled in September.
Amit Khare, Secretary, Higher Education, Ministry of Education clarified that as per Supreme Court directions, the Centre said that the year cannot be wasted and the SC orders will be complied with.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) also has issued standard operating procedure for the conduct of the exams. These guidelines including full santisation of the exam centre, usage of masks, hand sanitisers and gloves, and other precautions for COVID-19, he further stated.
Earlier on Monday the Supreme Court rejected a petition by JEE/NEET aspirants seeking postponement of both the exams due to the pandemic. Justice Arun Misra, who was heading the three-judge bench hearing the plea, stated that the court cannot put students’ career in peril by interfering with the tests.
Many students have been protesting on social media against the decision to hold the exam, expressing their concern over safety and COVID-19 infections.
On Tuesday, a three-judge SC bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan, while hearing a batch of petitions challenging the University Grants Commission (UGC)’s order to conduct final year exams in colleges across the country by September 30, said that students are not capable of deciding their welfare.
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The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) (Main) exam is scheduled to be held between September 1 and 6, and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) will be held on September 13.
-India Legal Bureau