NEET 2020: Postcard Size Photo, Class 10 Passing Certificate Required For Application Form

A postcard size photograph, and class 10 passing certificate will have to be uploaded in the application form of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test UG that is NEET 2020. These are the two new documents required for registration this time. The same photograph will be required on the day of exam that is May 3, 2020, and counselling.

NTA or the National Testing Agency will accept applications only in online mode for NEET exam from December 2 to 31, 2019. The 5 documents to be uploaded in form are passport size photograph, post card size photograph, signature, left hand thumb impression, and class 10 passing certificate.

The postcard size photograph should be 4 inches by 6 inches in dimension. It should have white background. It should be taken on or after September 1, 2019. Preferably, it should have the name of candidate as well as the date of taking the photograph. Candidate should not be wearing caps or goggles. Also, 80% of the photo should be of the applicant’s face, with ears clearly visible. Spectacles are allowed only if it is worn regularly. 

Until last year, candidates were not asked to upload this. 

As per reports, this change is a part of the stringent security measures taken by NTA for the NEET exam. The agency will use technology backed by artificial intelligence to catch similar looking photographs and other suspicious cases. 

This technology will also check whether a photograph is blank, of poor resolution, or blurred. Wherever there is an issue, NTA will send those candidates a link to get access to click live photograph. Then the software will check whether the image is live or not, and then the photo will be sent to a database to match against similar pictures. 

Another step taken in NEET 2020 to verify candidate’s identity is the requirement for class 10 passing certificate. Applicants need to upload the class 10 passing certificate too in the NEET application form this time. 

All these additional strict measures taken for identity verification are aimed at preventing miscreants from exploiting the system and to avoid a repeat of the impersonation scam.

NTA has instructed that NEET 2020 applicants should keep 4-6 copies of the same post card size photo that they upload during registration. The reason behind, it says is, “same passport size and post card size photographs are to be used for uploading with online application form and for pasting on attendance sheet at the examination centre / counselling / admission”. 

On the day of exam, candidates will have to paste the same post card size photograph with white background on the proforma downloaded with admit card, and it will have to be handed over to the invigilator. This will be mandatory to appear in the exam.

If it is found that candidate has uploaded someone else’s photo, then his or her candidature will be cancelled and the candidate will be placed under unfair means.