Earlier this week, the officials of Education and Health ministry held a review meeting on the situations of COVID-19 pandemic to consider the conduction of NEET (National Entrance cum Eligibility Test) UG 2021.
However no final decision on the medical entrance exam came out from the meeting. According to the speculations, It is most likely possible that the exams may get postponed further to a new date.
The exam is currently scheduled to be held on August 1. However NTA, the organising Body, has not even released the application forms yet which is considered to be done atleast 60 days earlier to the date of exams.
Last year in 2020, the NEET UG was held in September after postponement due to COVID-19 pandemic. Thus the ministry officials are considering to follow the same schedule of previous year and push the exams to september.
The National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible to conduct NEET every year, is left with a very short window till the current date of exam to complete all necessary preparations for conduct.
As the application forms are not released yet, a number of procedures are pending from the side of agency as well as from the candidate. Thus the time now available is not enough to successfully conduct the exam as per schedule.
There are a large of students opting for NEET UG 2021 who are demanding the postponement of exam since last few months. But now, demands are also being raised for addition of extra attempts.
NEET UG is a single-day national level entrance exam held by pen and paper mode only. More then 14 lakh students register every year for this exam and thus it is necessary to ensure the follow of every COVID safety protocol and guidelines.
An official from education ministry after the review meeting told that we are looking into the possibility that such a large gathering can be held or not when there is a probability of third pandemic wave in the country.