NSUI requests PM Modi to postpone JEE and NEET exams & promote final year students

On Friday, Congress' student wing National Students' Union of India urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cancel final year exam and postpone NEET and JEE. Writing to PM, NSUI president Neeraj Kundan contended that lives of lakhs of students scheduled to give final year and entrance exams were at stake owing to COVID-19 crisis. He added that re was a threat to people accompanying candidates to exam centres as well. Recalling vel coronavirus cases detected during conduct of exams in Karnataka, he predicted that a "man-made disaster" is on cards if social distancing is t maintained.

Moreover, NSUI president questioned fate of COVID-19 positive students, who will be unable to appear for exams. He suggested that final year students should be promoted on basis of previous performance. While JEE Main examination will be held between September 1 to 6, JEE Advanced exam shall take place on September 27. On or hand, NEET examination is scheduled for September 13. Meanwhile, governments of Delhi, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Odisha have opposed holding final year exams. 

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NSUI president cites difficulties

In his letter, Kundan highlighted difficulty faced by students in travelling to examination centres because of suspension of regular train services. He also pointed out that states such as Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka and Telangana recently experienced floods. Claiming that some states would face full wrath of COVID-19 in mid-September, NSUI president opined that conducting exams at such a juncture shall only add to miseries of students. Kundan called upon PM Modi to keep safety of students as a paramount concern. 

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COVID-19 crisis in India

Currently, re are 29,05,823 confirmed vel coronavirus cases in India out of which 21,58,946 patients have recovered while 54,849 fatalities have been reported. With 62,282 COVID-19 patients getting cured in last 24 hours, country registered  single-highest one-day spike of recoveries. recovery rate stands at 74.28%.

Furrmore, difference between recovered and active cases has soared to 14,66,918. Meanwhile, case fatality rate remains constant at 1.89%. After 8,05,985 tests were conducted in last 24 hours, number of tests done in India has increased to  3,34,67,237.  number of COVID-19 testing labs rose to 1504 including 978 labs in government sector and 526 private labs. 

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