JEE Main, NEET: Is NTA really prepared to take exams in September?

The National Testing Agency (NTA), on Friday, August 21, issued a notice stating that it will not cancel the JEE Main and NEET exams. Further, it assured that centres are taking all precautionary measures to facilitate the exam process. They will maintain law and order, power supply, movement of candidates and exam functionaries. IT has also assured crowd management in front of exam centres on the day of JEE Main exam. The testing agency has also issued the JEE Main admit cards.

Students all over the country are concerned about health and safety amid COVID-19. They have been running social media campaigns for months. Several states, which have been reeling under floods, have also argued for the postponement of JEE Main 2020 and NEET 2020. Yet, due to the Supreme Court order, NTA's decision is final and binding.

So, the question is: Is NTA really prepared to take JEE Main and NEET exams in September?

The answer is NO.

The NTA is working on a war-footing to conduct exams. From contactless frisking to COVID-declarations from aspirants to just 50% utilisation of test centres, it is working really hard to maintain a safe zone for students. It is practising the motto of "But Life Must Go On."

Yet, it is impossible to ensure that not even one student is covid-free. While the COVID-19 cases are a big problem, some part of Bihar, Assam, Orissa are flood-ridden. Heavy rainfalls have given rise to more problems than just COVID. The NTA cannot assure student safety all the time (from home to the centre and centre to home). The best they can do is maintain discipline within the premises.

On the other hand, where will the parents who come with students sit? That will be crowding, and NTA can't ensure to manage every centre especially in rural areas, where the ratio of cases is higher as compared to urban areas.

Read More: JEE Main-Neet 2020: 10 Reasons Why The Government Should Cancel Exams (It’s not COVID!)

Political leaders vocal on the issue

Subramanian Swamy, on Twitter, stated, "If our Modi Government goes through imposing the NEET/JEE exam now it will be the giant mistake like Nasbandi in 1976 that caused the undoing of Indira government in 1977. Indian voters may suffer silently but have long memories." In his letter, he even stated that through his personal verification, he found that centres are still not suitable to conduct the exams.

“Today in 21st century India, we cannot think of an alternate option for entrance examinations! This is not possible. Only the intention of the government should be to think in the interest of students, instead of conducting NEET-JEE, there can be thousands of safe ways,” Manish Sisodia said.

Notably, several like Manish Sisodia, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Vadra and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have urged PM Modi to postpone the exams.

What can NTA do?

Arushi Sarangi is a NEET Aspirant. With a conversation with Quint, she said that if the exams take place in September, it will be a huge mass injustice to students and their families too. For many people, it is their last attempt. And it is not their fault that they would be missing the exam either because they have the COVID-19 infection or because of fear. On the other hand, some students debate "what if the situation worsens?" It is a fair point.

Thus. the NTA can make it optional without making the students lose a chance to take the exam. This way, all JEE Main and NEET aspirants can try to attempt if they wish to.