Ministry of Education is expected to decide the exact date within the next 15 days for conducting the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) 2021. The HRD ministry has recently called upon the vice-chancellors of various universities to discuss the schedule for various national-level exams. These exams include CUCET 2021, JEE Main 2021 and NEET 2021. According to reports, the national-level medical entrance exam is likely to get postponed to September 2021. Once the official date is announced, the National Testing Agency shall subsequently, release the application form and information brochure for NEET 2021 on the official website ntaneet.nic.in.
Previously, on May 23, 2021, the Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ had conducted a meeting with union ministers, state education ministers, education secretaries and stakeholders. The meeting was convened to decide the feasibility of conducting Class 12 board exams and the various options available. As CBSE was likely to conduct the Class 12 board exams, NEET 2021 aspirants across the country demanded the postponement of the exam.
There were two main reasons behind this demand for postponement. The first reason was that NEET 2021 has been scheduled for August 01, 2021. However, CBSE and other boards were planning to conduct their board exams in mid-July or August 2021. Invariably, there would be a clash of exams. The second reason was the COVID-19 pandemic. India has just begun recovering from the second wave. Under such circumstances, conducting the exam for nearly 15 lakh students is not practical.
On June 01, 2021, however, CBSE announced the cancellation of Class 12 board exams due to the pandemic situation. This decision was taken after PM Modi convened a meeting with important union ministers, stakeholders, and other officials. Subsequently, most education boards decided to follow in the footsteps of CBSE. However, even after the cancellation of boards exams, postponement of NEET 2021 may still be on the cards.
Under normal circumstances, NTA begins the NEET registration process in December and conducts the exam in the following May. Therefore, there are a good five months given to candidates to register for the exam. However, this year, NTA is yet to release the NEET 2021 information brochure and application form. With mid-June 2021 already approaching, candidates will have barely a month or so to register for the exams. Hence, postponing the exam to September 2021 is the most obvious solution.
Last year, NEET was conducted on September 13, 2021, through the pen-and-paper format. Results for the same were announced on October 16, 2021. A similar pattern is expected to follow this year due to the second wave of coronavirus. NEET aspirants are waiting ardently for more clarity on this subject. However, authorities are yet to make a firm decision on the same.
