Sonia Gandhi/File Image
Amid a growing chorus to postpone JEE Main and NEET exams, Congress President Sonia Gandhi will hold a virtual meeting with chief ministers of seven states today to discuss the issue. The exams, scheduled in September, have triggered protests by students who are demanding that the entrances be postponed in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The meeting, which students say is the "last hope", will begin at 2:30 pm today. It is primarily being held to discuss issues related to GST collection and financial loss incurred by states because of COVID-19.
While the Joint Entrance Examination (Main) is scheduled from September 1-6, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) is planned on September 13. A total of 9.53 lakh candidates have registered for JEE-Mains, and 15.97 lakh students have registered for NEET.
After students' repeated requests, the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday conveyed again that the exams will be held as per schedule in September. The agency said it has planned several steps to conduct the papers safely which include increasing the number of examination centers, alternate seating plan, fewer candidates per room and staggered entry and exit. These steps have been introduced to ensure adherence to social distancing norms at the centres in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NTA said.
Who all are expected to attend the meeting
- Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh
- Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot
- Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel
- Puducherry CM V Narayanaswamy
- West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee
- Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray
- Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren
