The National Testing Agency (NTA) is expected to hold a review meeting soon, to decide on how to conduct the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main exams amid the pandemic.
A senior government official told India today, that the entrance exams cannot be cancelled and should be held after considering the pandemic situation, “The government is aware that the entrance examinations need to be conducted. Unlike the board exams, they cannot be cancelled because college seats are filled up on a competitive test basis,“ he stated.
“However, it is not right to put a timeline as to when the exams will be held as this may lead to undue anxiety among participants. The Covid-19 situation is being closely studied,” he further said.
According to India today's report, the tests are not expected to be cancelled this year, given the fact that they took place last year despite the unfavourable conditions created by the pandemic.
The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main exam from this session onwards will be conducted four times a year to provide students with an opportunity to improve their scores. The first phase was in February and the second in March. The next phases were scheduled for April and May, however, they were postponed due to the rise in COVID-19 cases in the second wave. The NTA will release JEE Main 2021 examination dates for both sessions at least 15 days before the exam.
The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced 2021 test which was scheduled to for July 3 is also been postponed because of the coronavirus situation in the country.
The NEET-UG exam is likely to be conducted on August 1. However, it may get postponed. The registration will begin in the first week of July.
