NEET 2020 cannot be conducted online: NTA to Kerala HC

Around the many speculations around NEET 2020, one was the mode being changes to online. Putting an end to this one in Kerala HC, NTA says NEET 2020 will not be conducted online.

In response to the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Kerala HC earlier this month, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has submitted that allocation of NEET 2020 exam centres in the Gulf countries will not be possible.

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is the only entrance test for admission to the undergraduate medical courses in India. Many students residing in the Gulf countries also appear for NEET every year. These students travel to India specifically to appear for NEET. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant travel restrictions, these students may not be able to appear for NEET 2020.  

The Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, had appealed to the Prime Minister to look into this matter personally. Parents of NEET 2020 aspirants residing in gulf countries also sort help from the Central Government. When nothing else worked, these parents decided to file litigation. The PIL was filed by Abdul Azeez, General Secretary, Kerala Muslim Culture Centre (KMCC) Qatar on June 11.

Also Read: Kerala Demands NEET 2020 Exam Centres in Gulf Countries, Asks for PM's Intervention

The respondents/petitioners also submitted that NEET 2020 be conducted online for the students in the gulf countries. In response to which NTA has submitted that the examination cannot be conducted online this year. NTA submits that changing the mode of the examination requires a lot of planning. NEET 2020 is expected to see more than 16 lakh test-takers. Conducting the examination online, in a single shift, for all these students will not be possible.

However, according to the report published by the Indian Express, the health ministry and the Ministry for Human Resources and Development are having internal discussions regarding the exam date for NEET 2020. Students all over India are protesting against NEET 2020 being conducted on July 26. They have urged the HRDM to postpone NEET 2020 exam date until a time more feasible to conduct an examination of this scale. Experts also suggest that NEET 2020 may be postponed further.

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