JEE- Mains exam begins from today

Edu minister urges states to support candidates

New Delhi, Aug. 31: The National Testing Agency ( NTA) is all set to conduct the engineering entrance exam JEE- Mains from Tuesday amid elaborate arrangements to maintain social distancing at centres in view of the Covid19 pandemic.

While the governments of Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have assured students that they will provide transportation to candidates, a group of IIT alumni and students have also launched a portal to provide transport facilities to exam centres for the candidates in need.

Union minister of education Ramesh Pokhiyal ‘ Nishank’ has appealed to the chief ministers of various states to support the students appearing for the exam.

There has been a growing chorus for postponing

ALL SEATS will be thor- oughly sanitised and the work stations and keyboards will be disinfected

JEE- Mains and medical entrance exam NEET amid the rising number of Covid- 19 cases.

The Joint Entrance Examination ( JEE)- Mains for admission to engineering courses in IITs, NITs and Centrally Funded Technical Institutions ( CFTIs) is scheduled to be held from September 1 to 6. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test ( NEET) is scheduled on September 13.

As many as 8.58 lakh candidates have registered for the Joint Entrance Examination ( JEE)- Main and 15.97 lakh have registered for NEET.

“I appeal to chief ministers of all states that support our students in such unprecedented circumstances and make appropriate arrangements so the aspirants do not have to face any inconvenience. I also appeal to students to have faith in agencies behind conduct of the examination,” the Education Minister said.

Increasing the number of examination centres, alternate seating plans, fewer candidates per room and staggered entry and exit are among the steps the National Testing Agency has taken for safely conducting NEET and JEE. According to NTA officials, before the start of each exam shift and after the last shift ends, all seats will be thoroughly sanitised and the work stations and keyboards will be disinfected. “Hand sanitisers will be available at the entrance of the examination centre,” an official said.