Chennai: Despite requests from the opposition parties, including some Chief Ministers, to defer exams in view of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, it looks like the Union government is firm on holding NEET and JEE.
Students are divided over the move, with some welcoming the move and some other opposing it- a trend which is visible on social media.
The government has defended its move to go ahead with NEET and JEE exams despite mounting pressure to defer them, saying over two-thirds of candidates have downloaded the admit cards which shows that students want these exams to be conducted at any cost, and asserted that it won’t let the Congress party spoil students’ future to find relevance.
Noting that over 17 lakh out of nearly 25 lakh candidates have already downloaded admit cards for the medical and engineering entrance exams, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ said his Ministry has been receiving e-mails from students and parents that these exams should not be further postponed.
His remarks came a day after seven Chief Ministers of non-BJP ruled states agreed to the need for filing a review petition urging the Supreme Court to reconsider its recent order rejecting the postponement of the competitive exams.
Congress and various opposition parties have demanded that NEET and JEE examinations be deferred due to the COVID-19 pandemic and floods in parts of the country, even as the Union government has made it clear that they will be held as per schedule with due precautions.
On Thursday, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the phone and requested him to postpone NEET and JEE exams, in view of the Covid-19 pandemic and the flood situation in the state.
During his conversation with the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister explained that Odisha is in the grip of a pandemic as well as flood, and students might face difficulties in appearing for the examinations.
Amid the growing chorus for postponement of the exams, over 150 academicians wrote to the Prime Minister to assert that delaying the medical and engineering entrance exams any further will mean compromising the future of students.