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.
Noting that over 17 lakh out of nearly 25 lakh candidates have already downloaded admit cards for the medical and engineering entrance exams, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' said his ministry has been receiving e-mails from students and parents that these exams should not be further postponed.
The minister's remarks came a day after seven chief ministers of non-BJP ruled states agreed to the need for filing a review petition urging the Supreme Court to reconsider its recent order rejecting the postponement of the competitive exams.
While the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) is scheduled from September 1-6, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) is planned on September 13.
Congress and various opposition parties have demanded that NEET and JEE examinations be deferred due to the COVID-19 pandemic and floods in parts of the country, even as the Union government has made it clear that they will be held as per schedule with due precautions.
The opposition party will hold countrywide protests today to oppose the government's decision to hold NEET, JEE exams during the pandemic.
READ: Will go ahead with JEE, NEET exams as students, parents wanted it: Education Minister
With PTI inputs
