NEET 2020: SC Says 'No Exam Centres Abroad, Overseas Students Can Take Vande Bharat Flights, Quarantine Norms Mandatory'

The Supreme Court said that there will be no NEET exam centres outside India and directed the government to ensure overseas aspirants are flown by Vande Bharat flights.

File Photo: PTI.

NEET 2020: The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the plea to conduct the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET 2020) aborad for NRI students. The plea heard by a bench of 3 judges — Justices Nageswara Rao, Hemant Gupta, and S Ravindra Bhat — asked the centre to make special provisions to let the students fly to India via Vande Bharat flights. They will also have to undergo mandatory quarantine, in view of public health. Also Read|NEET Exam Preparation Tips: With Just Few Weeks Left, Here Are 8 Tips To Make Your Final Prep Effective The apex court has asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to consult with the concerned government ministries on whether it can be ensured that such students return to India via Vande Bharat mission flights in time for writing the September 13 NEET exam. The court said, "We request the SG to consult the concerned ministries to ensure that the students who wish to visit India to write the NEET exam should be permitted to travel through Vande Bharat Mission flights." The plea was filed in the court by the parents of students who were living in Qatar and are aspiring to write NEET. Their petition seeking the same was previously dismissed by the Kerala High Court. The parents had also sought to let conduct these exams online and waive off their quarantine period. The NTA, however, in its rejoinder said that it will be impossible to be held online, as the exams are held in a 'long-book form'. Earlier, the Medical Council of India has submitted before the Supreme Court that the postponement of the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) Undergraduate (UG) 2020 shall be a "drastic deviation" from the academic schedule which "may affect the subsequent academic years" of the students.