NEET, JEE Main 2020: Sonu Sood requests a postponement in exams amid COVID-19; see tweet

Bollywood actor Sonu Sood on Tuesday urged Government of India to take steps for postponing Joint Entrance Examination (Main) and National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) as it is unsafe for students to physically appear in exams in view of prevailing COVID-19 situation.

National Testing ncy (NTA) has scheduled to conduct medical and engineering entrance exams - NEET and JEE (Main) - in September.

Row over NEET, JEE exams

NEET and JEE Main 2020 exams have become a major issue as thousands of students and parents are demanding ir postponement in wake of coronavirus pandemic. Amid growing clamour for postponement of NEET and JEE Main 2020 exams, political leaders have also joined bandwagon and have demanded government to reconsider its decision.

NEET, JEE Main 2020: Greta Thunberg says 'unfair for students to give exams during COVID'

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and even Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Subramanian Swamy have echoed demands of students. Swamy recently wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to postpone NEET/JEE and or competitive examinations beyond Diwali.

Meanwhile, National Testing ncy (NTA) has released admit cards of JEE (Main) exams which are scheduled for September 1 to September 6, 2020. To date, out of a total of 8,58,273 candidates, 6,49,223 candidates have downloaded ir admit cards. Out of total candidates, 99.07% of candidates have been given first choice of ir preference and only 120 candidates have requested a change in centre cities allotted to m, stated Centre. 

COVID, floods, a big worry for students

ongoing health crisis across country has led to travel constraints, exacerbated by floods in several states including Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Apart from concern of COVID-19 transmission at examination centre, students are also facing issue of transportation. 

NEET, JEE Main 2020: NTA releases COVID-19 guidelines for students, see full list