New Delhi: Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said that any further delay in conducting JEE, NEET exams will lead to a year's loss for all the students, resulting in zero academic years. Reiterating the holding JEE, NEET exams amid COVID-19 pandemic will not create trouble for students, Nishank said that the academic career of students cannot be put at risk.
He said that National Testing Agency(NTA) has released Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the safety of students and staff to be presented at the examination centre.
"NTA has planned several steps to conduct the papers safely which include increasing the number of examination centres, alternate seating plan, fewer candidates per room and staggered entry and exit," the minister said.
Backing the Supreme Court's decision of conducting the exams as per revised schedule, Pokhriyal said, "JEE and NEET exams have been postponed twice this year. But now, teachers, parents, SC and the government wants that there should be no delay in holding the exams. I have received so many requests on social media and emails in which students and parents have pressurized me that that exam should be conducted.
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"We have to stay strong and fight against the deadly pandemic. The career of students cannot be jeopardised and waste of an entire academic year is not appropriate," the BJP leader said, adding that students have expressed their happiness as exam centres have been allocated on the basis of merit.