JEE to be conducted from July 18-23, NEET to be held on July 26

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:6.5.2020

Engineering entrance examination, JEE (Main), will be conducted from July 18-23 and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) for admission to medical colleges will be held on July 26, HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal announced on Tuesday. The two crucial exams were postponedduetothe nationwide lockdown to combat Covid-19.

Responding to queries during a webinar with students, Pokhriyal said: “JEE (Main) will be held on July 18, 20, 21, 22 and 23 and NEET will be held on July 26.” The minister said JEE (Advanced) may be held in August and dates for UGC NET –2020 and pending CBSE Board examinations will be announced soon.

A senior HRD official said CBSE is finalising the schedule for pending Class X and XII Board exams and dates are likely to be announced on Thursday. “The exams are likely to be conducted in the first and second week of July, ahead of the JEE and NEET-UG,” he said.

More than 15 lakh students across the country have registered for NEET this year, whereas more than nine lakh have registeredfor JEE(Main)whichis a qualifying exam for JEE (Advanced) for admission to IITs.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has also given students an option to change their opted centres for the two tests as many of them have moved to different places since the lockdown.

During the one-hour interaction, Pokhriyal responded to the various concerns and queries of the students relating to school examinations, entrance tests, academic calendar, online education, fees and mental health issues among other things.

To a query relating to fee hike for NITs, IITs and IIITs for academic year 2020-21,the minister reiterated the decision announced last week that there would be no increase in fees during the next session.

He alsoinformedthat migration of students of Navodaya Vidyalayas to their respective states is being pursued and it has got momentum with a communication from the ministry to the state chief secretaries. He informedthatoutof 173 Schools, more than 62 schools have initiated the process and all schools which have migrated students are being monitored.