On the same day following the request by BJP MP, Subramanian Swamy, to postpone JEE and NEET 2020 until after Diwali, NTA uploaded an official notice. The notice stated that JEE Main 2020 and NEET 2020 will be held as per schedule with due precaution and it is not going to be postponed. The National Testing Agency informed that it will hold JEE Main 2020 for 8,58,273 candidates and NEET 2020 for 15,97,433 candidates and will abide by the orders of the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court has given the verdict that it will not interfere with the decision of NTA or the Education Ministry. It dismissed the plea that sought postponement of the exam due to COVID-19 stating the following:
“We find that there is absolutely no justification in the prayer made for postponement of the examination in question relating to NEET UG-2020 as well as JEE (Main) April 2020. In our opinion, though there is a pandemic situation, ultimately life has to go and the career of the students cannot be put on peril for the long, and full academic year cannot be wasted.”
“…the examination is going to be held with due precaution and it is not going to be postponed. Thus, we find no merit in the writ petition.”
In the letter to the Prime Minister of India, sent by Subramanian Swamy, the BJP leader stated that NTA or the Ministry is not bound by the decision of the SC and should postpone the exam. Within a few hours of it, Amit Khare, Secretary MHRD, replied that JEE Main and NEET 2020, plus other entrance exams will remain as per the schedule and will not be postponed. Later NTA made it official with its press release the following night.
NTA has clarified that this is the first time due to the pandemic, that candidates have been given the chance to change their exam centers 5 times. For both NEET and JEE Main 2020 the exam center change facility was kept open for long. The notice stated that for JEE Main 2020, 661911 have changed there centers and a total of 99.07% of the candidates have been allotted center in the first city choice.
For NEET 2020, 95000 candidates have changed their exam centres. NTA has allotted exam centre in first city choice to 99.87% candidates.
JEE Main 2020 admit card was issued on August 17, 2020, on the same day that SC rejected the plea for postponement of the exams. Until now, 6,49,223 candidates have downloaded their admit cards.
On the other hand, the admit card for NEET 2020 will be uploaded shortly. The exam city allotment has been informed to the candidates before the release of the admit cards under the login of candidates on August 20, 2020.
NTA assures the candidates that the exam will be held based on the MHRD’s guidelines for Conduct of Examinations. NTA is well prepared to hold the exam with elaborate arrangements to sanitise the centers before and after the conduct of the examinations. The personnel involved in the conduct of these exams are also been trained on the implementation of the NTA’s advisory for COVID-19, also available with the admit card of JEE Main 2020.
Important instructions have been also issued to the candidates with their admit cards, that are to be followed on the exam day.
JEE Main 2020 will be held on September 1, 2, 3,4, 5, and 6, 2020. The exam will be held in a Computer Based Test mode. JEE Main 2020 will be also held in 8 cities outside India. NEET 2020 will be held on September 13, 2020. This exam will be a pen and paper based test and will take place in various centers in India.
