Nishank asks Goa CM to provide security for NEET, JEE exams

In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal appealed to Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to arrange security for students appearing for JEE, NEET exams.

Panaji:Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has requested Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to make elaborate security arrangements for conducting the medical and engineering entrance exams NEET and JEE in the coastal state.

The state has set up 17 centres where 6,939 students would be appearing for these exams, the minister said in a tweet on Sunday. The opposition Congress in the state has demanded that NEET and JEE examinations be postponed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I had an extensive discussion with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant over holding of the prestigious NEET-JEE examinations in the state, Nishank tweeted.

"The state has set up 17 centres for 6939 students who would be taking these exams. I have requested CM to have elaborate security arrangements and facilities at these centres," he said in another tweet.

Earlier, Pokhriyal said that 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.

READ:Exam delays will affect academic time: Minister

The top court had refused to interfere with the conduct of the medical and engineering entrance exams, saying life must go on and students can't lose a precious year due to the pandemic.

Three leaders of the Congress-affiliated National Students Union of India (NSUI) were detained on Saturday after they sat on a hunger strike at the Azad Maidan in Panaji, demanding that JEE and NEET examinations be postponed. On Friday, ministers of six non-BJP ruled states moved the Supreme Court against its August 17 order allowing the exams.

Two days back, six non-BJP states moved Supreme Court and filed a review petition challenging the apex court's order which had allowed to hold the JEE, NEET exams amid Covid-19 pandemic.

With agency inputs