NEET JEE Row LIVE Updates: Odisha to Lift Lockdown During Exams; UP Gang Gambling on Dates Busted

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Joins Congress' Students' Safety Campaign 

Would you feel comfortable sending you children to an exam centre where they're going to be exposed to infection? Why can't a solution be found? They are the future of our country, it is our duty to listen to their voices: Smt. @priyankagandhi #SpeakUpForStudentSafety pic.twitter.com/bzv6DuyMbh

— Congress (@INCIndia) August 28, 2020

Congress Runs Online Campaign Against NEET, JEE | The Congress held nationwide protests and ran an online campaign against the Centre's decision to conduct JEE and NEET examinations amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with party chief Sonia Gandhi urging the government to listen to the voices of students and act according to their wishes. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also urged the government to hold a conversation with students over the issue of conducting NEET and JEE exams amid the pandemic and take a decision after arriving at a consensus, PTI reports. 

The state is yearning for a change in 2021 and the people of Bengal will oust the "corrupt" TMC government, he said.

Thermal Screening, Sanitizers, 12 Students in a Room: Centres Prep for Exams | Twelve students in a classroom, fresh masks from the Centre, thermal screening, use of alternate urinals, and sanitisation on entry. This is how Delhi Public School, Ruby Park, in Kolkata is preparing to hold the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) from 2 pm to 5 pm on September 13, reports The Indian Express. 

What is Opposition Demanding? The Left parties opposed the Centre's decision to hold the JEE and NEET exams in September amid the COVID-19 pandemic and said it completely undermines the health concerns of students. The JEE Main and the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) will be conducted in September as scheduled, the Ministry of Education officials had earlier said. "What is most outrageous is the insensitivity to hold these examinations in the physical mode across the country at a time when the pandemic is surging both in the number of infections, as well as, the mounting counts of deaths," CPI (M) Politburo said. READ MORE

The state chief secretary urged JEE aspirants to share details with their nodal ITI principals by August 31 so that necessary arrangements can be made for their transport and accommodation.

Yogi Adityanath Says Uttar Pradesh Govt in Favour of Holding NEET, JEE Exams | The Uttar Pradesh government is in favour of holding the NEET and JEE, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said. The statement comes following opposition parties including the Samajwadi Party and Congress demanding that the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for medical colleges and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for engineering colleges be deferred due to COVID-19 pandemic.

No Lockdown in Odisha from August 30 to September 7 in the View of JEE & NEET Exams 

There will be no lockdown or shutdown in force in the examination cities in Odisha from 30th August and 7th September and from 12th September and 14th September: State Government#JEE_NEET_Exams

— ANI (@ANI) August 29, 2020

Hold NEET, JEE as Per Schedule for Students' Benefit: CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan | Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the NEET and JEE exams should be held as per their schedule so that one year of students does not go wasted. Various opposition parties, including the Congress, have demanded that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) be deferred due to the COVID-19 pandemic and floods in parts of the country, even as the Union government has made it clear that they will be held as per schedule with due precautions.

The education minister, who is also the TMC secretary general, said the government is hopeful that the apex court would take the appeal into consideration.

Rajasthan CM Appeals to Centre to Postpone JEE, NEET | Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot demanded that the Centre postpone the JEE and NEET amid the COVID-19 pandemic, saying lakhs of students and their parents are concerned about their health. Gehlot in a video message said the country is flooded with coronavirus cases and there is a problem of transportation and hotels because of the pandemic.

Odisha Government Announces Free Transportation for JEE & NEET Candidates | The Odisha government announced to provide free transportation and accommodation facilities to the candidates appearing for the JEE (Main) and NEET. The government will provide free transportation and accommodation to those who do not have any arrangement, informed Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has scheduled to conduct the JEE (Main) and NEET on September 1-6 and September 13, respectively.

The plea, filed through advocate Sunil Fernandes, said the apex court order fails to satisfy safety and security concerns of students appearing for the exams.

Congress' Digvijay Singh Urges Centre, SC to Reconsider Decision on NEET& JEE | Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Friday urged the Centre and the Supreme Court to reconsider the decision to hold the NEET and JEE exams amid the coronavirus pandemic. "Everyday more than 70,000 cases of coronavirus are being reported in the country. But amid this situation, NEET- JEE exams are being conducted. If anything happens to the students then who will be responsible for it?" Singh asked in a statement.

WB BJP President Dilip Ghosh Accuses CM Mamata of "Vitiating Political Atmosphere" | Dilip Ghosh on Friday accused the TMC government of "vitiating the political atmosphere" in the state and criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for misleading the students on NEET/JEE exams. Ghosh said the TMC has made it a habit to oppose any decision taken by the central government and is trying to mislead the people of the state on the issue.
   

Kanpur Police Busts NEET Gambling Racket | Police busted a betting-gambling racket and arrested 7 people with Rs 38.25 Lakhs cash & 10 mobile phones seized. Racket's kingpin managed to escape. The Superintendent of Police said, "It was found that they were also also placing bets on NEET-JEE exams - if exams will be held or not."