NEET 2020 Exam day finally dawns; 15 lakh to appear amid full-scale anti-Covid precautions

Over 15 lakh candidates will appear for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) conducted by National Testing ncy (NTA), for admission to medical courses across country on Sunday, September 12. medical entrance examination will be held with strict precautions in view of ongoing coronavirus pandemic, an official of NTA said.

crucial medical exam has been deferred twice earlier. In order to ensure that social distancing is maintained, NTA has increased number of centres from 2,546 to 3,843 and  number of candidates per room has been reduced from earlier 24 to 12. This has led to changes in centres for a few candidates, however, city of exam centre remains unchanged for all.

A total of 15.97 lakh students have registered for  pen and paper-based test. NEET was originally scheduled for May 3, but was pushed to July 26, and n to September 13 considering  pandemic situation.

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'Staggered entry and exit of candidates'

"For ensuring social distancing outside examination halls, a staggered entry and exit of candidates has been planned. Adequate arrangements have also been made outside examination centres to enable candidates stand with adequate social distancing while waiting," a senior NTA official said.

Candidates have also been issued an advisory guiding m about 'dos and don'ts' for proper social distancing. NTA has also written to state governments to extend support in local transportation of candidates so that y are able to reach ir examination centres in time,  official added.

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Steps taken by NTA to conduct safe examination

Some of major steps taken by testing ncy to conduct safe examination include; making hand sanitisers available at entrance of examination centre and inside exam hall at all times, increasing number of examination centres, replacing process of checking admit cards of candidates with barcode readers, alternate seating plans, fewer candidates per room and staggered entry and exit.

All candidates are asked to come to exam centres with masks and sanitisers and once y enter centre, y will have to use masks provided by examination authority, NTA said. "Each candidate will be offered a three-ply mask at time of entry and are expected to wear same during examination in order to avoid any form of unfair means at time of examination," official added.

Meanwhile, governments of Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh have assured students that y will provide transportation. A group of Indian Institute of Techlogy (IIT) alumni and students have launched a portal to provide transport facilities to exam centres for candidates in need.

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Exam guidelines for NEET 2020 (key features)

1. bags, books or mobiles are allowed in exam halls and frisking may be undertaken post-rmal screening if needed at NEET 2020 exam hall.
2. For movement inside exam halls, Centre has advised institutes to adopt contact-less processes like OR code, online, digital signatures.
3. For pen and paper exams, Centre has advised opening answer sheets only 72 hours after collection and advised invigilators and applicants to sanitise ir hands prior to receiving papers.
4. Centre has also advised isolating students developing symptoms and informing nearest medical facility if health deteriorates.

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(With ncy inputs)