IIT Delhi director: Further delay in conducting NEET, JEE can have serious repercussions

Any furr delay in conducting entrance exams JEE and NEET will have "serious repercussions" on t only acemic calendar but also career of bright students, IIT Delhi Director V Ramgopal Rao said.

Rao's comments come in wake of growing clamour for postponing two crucial exams in wake of rise in COVID-19 cases.

" consequences of postponing se exams any furr can have serious repercussions on IIT acemic calendars and for candidates. I fail to see how we can run two batches toger. It will become a zero acemic year for lakhs of students. Our acemic calendars are too packed alrey and linked to too many or things. delays can impact careers of so many bright students.

"We have alrey lost six months. If we conduct exams in September, we can at least start sessions in Indian Institutes of Techlogy (could be online) in December. Tinkering with examination pattern or mission processes in se times will also be detrimental and unfair for everyone," Rao said in a social media post.

He said coronavirus is t going to go away for at least a year and we cant be perpetually in lockdown mode, and appealed to students to "trust institutions" and take entrance tests while strictly following COVID-19 safety guidelines.

"COVID is t going to go away for ar six months to one year. We all need to get used to this new rmal. earlier we realise that, better it is for all of us. last postponement of exams definitely helped us prepare well w.

"I feel s for those serious students preparing for se examinations. I did receive a large number of emails from m. As if COVID-19 is t eugh, this uncertainty about exam dates is furr ding to stress levels of students. Personally, I am for conducting se examinations by taking all precautions and following social distancing rms. Lockdown is t a solution to COVID. Lockdown was needed to prepare ourselves better," he said.

IIT director also ted that Joint Entrance Examination (Main) is w conducted multiple times a year. "Incase some students cant write JEE Main this time, y can take exam after six months again. I don't see any reason for a concern. As JEE vanced organising institute, I assure everyone that IITs will do ir best and put ir best foot forward in organising JEE vanced examination," he said.

Rao said y will also be closely monitoring situation and take necessary steps as required. "Health of candidates is of utmost concern to all of us. We all have children and we can connect with parents of candidates," he said.

JEE Main and National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) will be conducted in September as scheduled, Ministry of Education officials h on Tuesday said, amid a growing chorus for postponing crucial tests in view of COVID-19 pandemic. While JEE Main is scheduled from September 1-6, NEET is planned on September 13.

Several opposition leers in India, including Congress' Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, her Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik and DMK president M K Stalin have demanded exams be postponed.

(Photo credit for representation: PTI)