NEET underway amid strict Covid-19 protocols at exam centres

DN Bureau

The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) is being held on Sunday across the country amid stringent checks and protocols in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. Over 15 lakh candidates have registered for the undergraduate exam.

Students arrive at Siliguri Institute of Technology to appear for NEET examination
Students arrive at Siliguri Institute of Technology to appear for NEET examination


Siliguri: The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) is being held on Sunday across the country amid stringent checks and protocols in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. Over 15 lakh candidates have registered for the undergraduate exam.

The NEET exam is being held days after the JEE (Main) was held across the country.

The National Testing Agency (NTA), the body organising the exam has put in place a raft of measures such as increasing the number of exam centres and reducing number of students in a room in view of the Covid-19. Originally scheduled for May 3, has been deferred twice due to Covid-19 first it was postponed to July 26 and then to September 13.

Also Read: Listen to students ke mann ki baat about NEET, JEE and arrive at acceptable solution: Rahul Gandhi urges Centre 

In Siliguri, which has 25 exam centres for NEET. One of the exam centres, Siliguri Institute of Technology(SIT) took all the precautionary measures as per the NTA directions.

Speaking to ANI, Director of SIT Dr Pradosh Kumar Adhvaryyu said, "There are 25 centres in Siliguri and in our institute, 1,500 students will appear in the examination.

"As per the NTA's directions, we will be conducting the examination here. We have arranged the facilities like thermal screening, sanitisation. We have also taken care of social distancing norm and have arranged the seats of two candidates 6 feet apart," said the director.

Adhvaryyu further said, "For the students with symptoms, we have isolation unit where they can write their test. The invigilators in the isolation unit will be wearing PPE kits. We will not allow the guardians to enter the campus."

The situation will be monitored by NTA, he added.

Also Read: Students future and safety our prime concern: Education Minister 

Adhvaryyu said, "The relaxation of lockdown will help the students coming from different parts of the states to reach the exam centres." He also suggested that the students shall abide by all the norms guided by NTA during the examination.

Also Read | JEE-Main: 5 Delhi boys score 100 percentile

To facilitate the free movement of students appearing for NEET exam, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had on Friday announced that there will be no curfew in the state.

The candidates arrived at examination centres ahead of the NEET exam amid the coronavirus pandemic. While some of them were seen doing last minute revision.

A candidate at Vidya Mandir in Mylapore, Chennai said, "NEET is just an exam. There is nothing to fear. If not cleared this time, we can reappear next year." Another candidate at an examination centre in Siliguri, West Bengal said, "It's a test of 1.5 years of my hard work. We're taking all precautions including wearing masks and frequently sanitizing hands."

West Bengal government has ordered to resume metro services today for NEET 2020 examination aspirants & their parents. Following this, social distancing norms being followed and sanitisation being done at metro stations in Kolkata.(ANI)










Related Stories