NEET-JEE Exams: Dates Confirmed But Postponement Demands Continue; Check Latest Developments In The Matter

NEET-JEE Exam Dates: As students brace themselves for the upcoming NEET and JEE exams in September, calls for its postponement continues. Here are some of the latest updates on the issue.

(Representative Image/ Getty)

JEE and NEET Exam 2020: The government confirmed on August 21, that there will be no further delay in the NEET and JEE exams and that it will be held in September according to the revised schedule. The announcement came days after the Supreme Court dismissed the student petition seeking postponement of the JEE and NEET exams. But despite assurances, students remain apprehensive about the exams and some continue to protest. Here are some of the latest updates on the NEET and JEE 2020 exams. No Exam Centres Aboard  A plea seeking online exam centers for NRI NEET candidates was denied on Monday by the Supreme Court. The bench comprising of Justice Nageswara Rao, Hemant Gupta, and S. Ravindra Bhat asked Central Government to arrange to Vande Bharat flights to help students travel to the country. The bench refused to waive off quarantine in the interest of public health. While JEE centers are available abroad, NEET centers are not and the gap between two exams is not enough for those candidates who wish to appear for both as they must be present in India to appear for NEET. The NTA informed the court that NEET is conducted in a paper-book format and uniformity has to be maintained therefore it can’t be conducted in online mode. Students Still Apprehensive Several parents and student demand for the exams to be postponed due to ongoing pandemic and increasing cases. While the NTA said it has “has prepared a comprehensive advisory regarding COVID-19 for all functionaries for centre management”. Students feel that it is not enough and is an unnecessary risk to students’ health. And many have taken to social media to raise their opinion.

@DrRPNishank @DG_NTA @PMOIndia You all cannot show your back on us. All of us student's lives are at stake. You cannot leave us vulnerable for the exams. Have a warm decision before its too late!#MODIJI_POSTPONEJEENEET #JEE #NEET #jeeneetpostpone #JEEMain

— Rahul (@rahulb813) August 25, 2020

However, there are students who just can’t bear the stress over the exams and are willing to take the precautions to attend the exams. JEE aspirant Mohit Raj told The Times of India “The fear of Covid-19 infection will always be there till the vaccine is invented but I can’t bear the unending tension of exams anymore. I am mentally prepared to take the exam if it is not postponed.” He added, “I have been preparing for this for the last three years and I will take all the required precautions while going to my exam centre in Tatisilwai.” Politicians support student demands Some politicians have also lent support to students and requested PM Modi and Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal to defer the exams. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to postpone the JEE and NEET exams due to the prevailing Covid-19 situation, saying the lives of students should not be put at risk by taking such "unilateral and bureaucratic decisions". BJP leader Subramanian Swamy has also come out in support of students demanding postponement of competitive exams like JEE and NEET 2020, he took to Twitter and listed 13 reasons for the postponement of competitive exams this year considering circumstances induced by the Coronavirus pandemic which included transportation, he stated “Given that Public Transport and Trains are already shut down by the State and Central governments, how can we expect the poor students to arrange private vehicles in these conditions and as such, there is a high demand for these. In addition, the parent(s) cannot travel with these very young children which only complicates the situation further.” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also, on Sunday said the government must listen to the 'Mann ki Baat' of students and arrive at "an acceptable solution". He stated that his party demanded to defer these examinations.