States have introduced measures to help these showing for the examination. (Representational)
New Delhi:
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) – for admission to medical programs throughout the nation – will likely be held at this time. States have introduced particular measures, together with easing of restrictions and transportation. The conduct of the NEET amid the Covid pandemic was challenged by some college students and opposition-ruled states, who argued that holding these exams at the moment would endanger the lives of scholars. Last month the Supreme Court was petitioned to defer each NEET and the JEE (for admission to IITs) however the court docket stated the exams might be held with strict restrictions on contact and social distancing. The JEE has already been held and outcomes have been declared. On Wednesday the court docket declined to listen to any additional petitions on deferring NEET.
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As directed by the highest court docket and centre, the National Testing Agency (NTA), which is in command of conducting aggressive entrance checks, has launched an intensive record of pointers for the examination. These embody staggered reporting instances and seating to make sure social distancing. Students should additionally put on face masks and gloves and carry their very own hand sanitiser and a water bottle.
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There will likely be “isolation rooms” for candidates whose physique temperature is above the prescribed restrict. The NTA has additionally sought a self-declaration that claims candidates wouldn’t have any signs or undergo from Covid or haven’t been in contact with a Covid-positive individual.
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Nearly 2.three lakh college students have registered for NEET in Maharashtra alone, which is the state worst-affected by the Covid pandemic. Around 1.67 lakh college students will take the examination in Uttar Pradesh, whereas Karnataka has round 1.19 lakh college students, Tamil Nadu has 1.18 lakh and Kerala 1.16 lakh. Together these states account for over 8.57 lakh NEET aspirants. Overall, greater than 16 lakh college students have registered for this examination.
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States have introduced measures to help these showing for the examination. Bengal has cancelled the Covid lockdown scheduled for the day and can function particular Metro companies in Kolkata for college kids. Punjab has lifted its weekend curfew, though non-essential companies will stay closed. The two states, mixed, have almost 90,000 aspirants.
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Odisha has introduced free transportation and lodging for candidates needing to journey lengthy distances to jot down the examination. Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh have additionally promised help to college students travelling to take a seat for the NEET examination. In Mumbai, the Railways will run particular trains to ferry candidates and their mother and father. In Bihar too particular trains – 20 of them – will likely be operated.
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Two Tamil Nadu NEET candidates died by suicide on Saturday, state police stated. One scholar was the son of a scrap service provider from Dharmapuri, who sat for the examination final 12 months however didn’t clear it. The different was a 19-year-old lady from Madurai who was on the waitlist after sitting for the examination final 12 months. On Wednesday a 3rd scholar – a 19-year-old boy from the state’s Ariyalur district – died by suicide after failing to clear the examination in two earlier makes an attempt.
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Opposition leaders, together with Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Maharashtra cupboard minister Aaditya Thackeray and DMK chief MK Stalin had requested the federal government to rethink holding the JEE and NEET exams in the course of the pandemic. Opposition chief ministers, together with Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee, who stated states have been being “bulldozed” within the identify of federalism, approached the highest court docket, however have been turned down.
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On September 1, the primary day of the JEE, the attendance fee in UP’s Lucknow was beneath 60 per cent. It was round 25 per cent in Bengal, Ms Banerjee claimed, with a number of college students complaining of difficulties in touring to their examination centres. In Gujarat, round 45 per cent of scholar skipped the primary day, the state authorities stated.
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On Saturday night, with hours to go for the examination, #BanNEET and #NEETisSocial_Injustice started trending on Twitter.
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Last month the Supreme Court stated “careers of students cannot be put under jeopardy” and rejected a petition by 11 college students to postpone each the JEE and the NEET. “Life cannot be stopped. We have to move ahead with safeguards and all… Are students ready to waste one whole year? Covid may continue for a year more,” the court docket stated.