LIVE updates: Higher Education Secy thanks states, NTA for smooth conduct of JEE

22:36 September 01

Higher Education Secy thanks states, NTA for smooth conduct of JEE 

New Delhi: Secretary of Higher Education Amit Khare on Tuesday thanked the state governments and officials of the National Testing Agency for the smooth conduct of the Joint Entrance Exams (JEE) Main on Tuesday. 

"JEE Exam was conducted smoothly all over the country. I would like to thank all the state governments and officials of the National Testing Agency for the smooth conduct of the examination," said Khare after the completion of exams. 

In midst of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, JEE Main was conducted across India following all COVID-19 protocols today. Generally scheduled in April, the conduction of the nation-wide engineering exam has been severely opposed by members of the opposition and several students after it was already postponed two times in the last few months due to the coronavirus and floods that have affected many parts of the country. 

In a tweet earlier today, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal shared a video message wishing students good wishes for the examination. JEE is crucial for students trying to get through the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) across the country.

22:35 September 01

Rlys to run special trains for NEET, JEE, NDA exam candidates in Bihar

Patna: The Indian Railways has decided to run 20 pairs of special trains from September 2 to 15 for the convenience of the canidates appearing for NEET, JEE and NDA examinations in Bihar.

Sharing the information, Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal tweeted, "Indian Railways has decided to run 20 pairs of MEMU / DEMU special trains from September 2 to 15 for the convenience of candidates joining JEE Mains, NEET and NDA in Bihar."

According to the railway ministry officials, the students appearing in the examinations will be able to buy the tickets for these special trains from the booking counters at the stations or they can also buy the tickets from the UTS on mobile application.

18:58 September 01

3,600 students appear for JEE Main in Odisha

Bhubaneswar:  Amidst strict enforcement of the COVID-19 protocols as many as 3,600 students appeared in the Joint Entrance Examination Main (JEE Main) in Odisha on Tuesday, official sources said.

The students appeared for the examination in 26 different centres spread across seven cities in the state. The examinations were held in two sittings, from 9 AM to 12 noon and 3 pm to 6 pm.

As many as 38,236 students will be appearing for the examination in the state. The examination will continue till September 6, he said.

"Best wishes to all students appearing for #JEEMain2020 during this challenging time. May you all be successful and come through with flying colours," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wished through a twitter post.

Students are appearing in the exam in the 26 examination centres in seven cities - Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Dhenkanal, Balasore, Berhampur and Sambalpur - by following all the COVID-19 guidelines.

Before being allowed entry into the examination halls, the temperature of the students was checked with thermal scanner. They also had to maintain social distancing norms while entering the examination hall. 

16:05 September 01

Mask cladded students appear for JEE exam across India amid COVID-19 fear

Chandigarh/Patna/Ranchi/Vijaywada/Panaji/Jajpur/Ahmedabad: In midst of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, students across India made their way to their respective centres for Joint Entrance Exams (JEE) Main examination centres earlier on Tuesday.

The conduction of the nation-wide engineering exam has been severely opposed by members of the opposition and several students after it was already postponed two times in the last few months due to the coronavirus and floods that have affected many parts of the country.

15:50 September 01

Students glad as JEE kickstarts from today, say 'COVID-19 safety protocols maintained at centres'

New Delhi:All COVID-19 protocols such as maintaining social distancing, use of face mask and hand sanitizer, and thermal checking were strictly followed by aspirants after coming out from the Joint Entrance Examination Main (JEE) centre at Vivek Vihar here.

At one of the examination centres in Delhi's Arwachin Bharti Bhawan Senior Secondary School in Vivek Vihar, Syed Ali Hasan said, "I am glad that the exam finally happened. Postponing the examination is similar to mounting pressure on students. And given the protocols being observed strictly, things are absolutely perfect inside."

Another aspirant Harleen Kaur stated, "All the COVID-19 protocols have been maintained stringently. We were asked to sanitize our hands thrice. Sitting arrangements were also maintained observing proper social distancing."

Generally scheduled in April, today's examination started after they were postponed twice earlier following the outbreak of the coronavirus.

Muskan said, "I am relieved. The examination finally actually happened. It was good, though I am a little worried about the last answer. Otherwise, the paper was not tough. There were three to four invigilators and gloves and masks were worn throughout the examination."

Dipesh Jain, a parent said, "I was extremely worried about my daughter. I was worried that she might lose a year. Postponing the exam or not holding it can never be a solution to the pandemic. To me, observing all the safety norms meticulously is more important."

In a tweet earlier today, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal shared a video message wishing students good wishes for the examination.

JEE is crucial for students trying to get through the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) across the country.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of examinees appearing for JEE has been reduced to 12 per room, from 24.

While entering the halls in the morning, students maintained queues while observing the said norms of social distancing. All were checked with thermal scanners and given hand sanitizers before entering the centre.

Students were allowed to carry only transparent water bottles, admit card, original identity card, two passport size photographs, and hand sanitizers inside the examination centre.

The centre's main entrance gate was closed at 8:30 am, half an hour before the commencement of the examination.

The following set of examinees will not use the same computers to give the examination. There will have another set. Before continuing with the entire procedure for the second half, everything, from door handles or railings will be sanitized once again.

Nearly 9.58 lakh students registered for the examination which will be conducted for six days altogether across 660 centres pan India.

The examination tenure was three hours which started at 9 am. The next shift will begin at 3 pm. (ANI)

12:03 September 01

LJP MP writes to Pokhriyal over NEET issue

Lok Janshakti Party(LJP) MP Chandan Singh has alleged that students from Bihar have been allocated examination centres of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in other states.

In a letter to the Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, the Lok Sabha MP from Nawada has demanded the postponement of NEET or for allocation of examination centres for Bihar students afresh, within their home state.

"I have received several phone calls of students appearing for NEET from Bihar who is going to appear for the examination on September 11. Many have been allocated examination centres in Pune, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Amid COVID-19 pandemic, how students will travel and stay in others states for examination while transports facilities like trains and flights not available like earlier," Singh said.  

"I have written a letter to Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and requested him that either postpone the NEET examination or allocate examination centres within the home state so that students can appear in the examination without any difficulty," he said.\The National Testing Agency is scheduled to conduct the NEET on September 13 while JEE examination has begun today.

12:03 September 01

All necessary COVID-19 protocols in place for JEE exams: K'taka Minister  

The preparations to ensure necessary COVID-19 protection protocols for conducting Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) Main 2020 from September 1 to 6 have been made in Karnataka, said Dr K Sudhakar, State Medical Education Minister.  

"We have done SSLC examinations, post-graduation medical exams successfully. Similarly, we will conduct the JEE exam without adverse situations for students," the minister said.

He said that the state government is focused and responsible for ensuring that the children who like to pursue professional careers should not be jeopardised with the situation.\"We will ensure that they are protected, safety measures are taken and at the same time, they excel in their careers," he further said.  

\While commenting on the criticism over holding exams, Dr Sudhakar said that most of the students are in favour of the decision. 

"Some organisations have a political bent of mind and so they make empty noise. Most of the students are supporting and appreciating the move of the Centre (to hold JEE and NEET exams). We are ready and I welcome and support the decision," he added.  

Meanwhile, students across different states of the country including Bihar, Goa, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, West Bengal, and Odisha, are appearing for the JEE exams at designated centres.  

12:00 September 01

Lucknow

Lucknow:Candidates underwent temperature check at Subash Chandra Bose Institute of Higher Education in Prabandh Nagar, Muburakpur that has been designated as an exam centre for JEEMain. Candidates were given fresh masks and gloves before entering the centre.

12:00 September 01

10:39 September 01

Kerala:Sanitisation facility installed and temperature of candidates being checked before entering an examination centre in Kochi's Aluva, for JEEMains exam, earlier today.

10:08 September 01

Jammu & Kashmir: Candidates arrive at Chenab College of Education in Kaluchak that has been designated as an exam centre for JEEMain.

09:54 September 01

HC refuses to stay JEE-Main examination 

The Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Tuesday refused to stay the JEE-Main examination but said any student residing in flood-hit parts of Maharashtra's Vidarbha region who cannot reach the exam centre or reaches late can apply to the National Testing Agency to seek a re-examination.

A division bench of Justices Ravi Deshpande and Pushpa Ganediwala said the National Testing Agency (NTA) shall consider such applications and decide accordingly, after checking the veracity of the same.

09:26 September 01

Jharkhand: Candidates enter #JEEMain examination centre in Ranchi while observing social distancing norms.

09:21 September 01

Students arrive at examination centre in Bihar

Bihar: Candidates undergo temperature check and hand sanitization process at TCS Office in Pataliputra Colony, Patna, designated as an exam centre for #JEEMain. They are also being given fresh masks.

08:31 September 01

Students arrive at examination centre in Gorakhpur

Gorakhpur: Candidates writing  JEEMain arrive at examination centres in Nausar.  All the measures in the wake of COVID-19 are taken care of.  Announcements are also being made for students to maintain social distancing.

08:01 September 01

Students arrive at examination centre in Delhi

Students arrive at examination centre in Delhi

Delhi: Candidates arrive at Arwachin Bharti Bhawan Sr Sec School in Vivek Vihar, designated as an examination centre for JEEMain. The temperature of candidates is also being checked. 

07:51 September 01

Students leave for examinations centres 

As per directions of State government, Jajpur district administration has provided travel facilities for students appearing in JEE Main to help them reach their exam centres.  

07:42 September 01

Students glad as JEE kickstarts from today

New Delhi:The National Testing Agency (NTA) is all set to conduct the engineering entrance exam JEE-Mains from Tuesday amid elaborate arrangements to maintain social distancing at centres in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the governments of Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have assured students that they will provide transportation to candidates, a group of IIT alumni and students have also launched a portal to provide transport facilities to exam centres for the candidates in need.

Union Minister of Education Ramesh Pokhiyal 'Nishank' has appealed to the chief ministers of various states to support the students appearing for the exam.

There has been a growing chorus for postponing JEE-Mains and medical entrance exam NEET amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE)-Mains for admission to engineering courses in IITs, NITs and Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs) is scheduled to be held from September 1 to 6. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is scheduled on September 13.

As many as 8.58 lakh candidates have registered for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE)-Main and 15.97 lakh have registered for NEET.

"I appeal to chief ministers of all states that support our students in such unprecedented circumstances and make appropriate arrangements so the aspirants do not have to face any inconvenience. I also appeal to students to have faith in agencies behind the conduct of the examination," the Education Minister said.

Increasing the number of examination centres, alternate seating plans, fewer candidates per room and staggered entry and exit are among the steps the National Testing Agency has taken for safely conducting NEET and JEE.

According to NTA officials, before the start of each exam shift and after the last shift ends, all seats will be thoroughly sanitised and the work stations and keyboards will be disinfected.

"Hand sanitisers will be available at the entrance of the examination centre and inside the exam hall at all times. The usual process of checking the admit cards of candidates will be replaced with barcode readers, which have been made available to the examination centre authorities," an official said.

"While all the candidates will be asked to go to the exam centres with masks and sanitisers, once they enter the centre, they will have to use the masks provided by the examination authority. Each candidate will be offered a 3-ply mask at the time of entry and expected to wear the same during the examination in order to avoid any form of unfair means at the time of examination," the official said.

There have been demands from several students and parents to further postpone the entrance exams in view of the increasing number of coronavirus cases.

Several opposition leaders including Congress' Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, her Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik, DMK President MK Stalin and Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia have also demanded that the exams be postponed.

The Supreme Court had earlier dismissed a plea seeking postponement of the two exams amid a spurt in the number of COVID-19 cases, saying a "precious year" of students cannot be wasted and life has to go on.

With barely days left for the JEE exams to start, the issue had escalated into a full-blown political battle last week with ministers from six states -- Rajasthan and Punjab (Congress), West Bengal (Trinamool Congress), Jharkhand (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha), Maharashtra (Nationalist Congress Party and Shiv Sena) -- seeking postponement of the exams "in a manner that achieved the twin objectives of ensuring that the academic year of the students is not wasted and their health and safety is not compromised".

They filed a petition in the SC to review its order of conducting JEE and NEET UG 2020 entrance tests during the novel coronavirus crises.

The crucial exams have already been deferred twice in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The JEE-Main was originally scheduled to be held from April 7-11 but was postponed to July 18-23, the NEET-UG was originally scheduled for May 3, but was pushed to July 26. They were postponed again and are now scheduled in September.

Based on the results of the JEE-Mains Paper 1 and Paper 2, the top 2.45 lakh candidates will be eligible to appear for the JEE-Advanced exam, which is a one-stop exam to get admission into the 23 premier Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). JEE-Advanced is scheduled to take place on September 27.