No changes in NEET-UG pattern this year

No changes in NEET-UG pattern this year

Exams Will Be Conducted On Pen-Paper In June or July: Higher Education Secretary

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: 02.03.2021 

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) for admission to medical colleges will have no changes this year. The exams will be conducted on pen-paper between June-July. Amit Khare, secretary, higher education, said it would be unfair on the students to make any changes in such a short notice and delay in the holding the test would affect the new session.

The ministry of education wanted the medical entrance exam to be held more than once a year and on computers, but a consensus could not be reached with the ministry of health on time. With the success of conducting JEE (Main) multiple times in a year and close to 28% of the aspirants (based on the 2020 results) improving their scores in the second attempt, there has been a growing demand for the same for NEET-UG as well.

According to Khare, “In our view, NEET should be held more than once a year because at times it is possible that for some reasons, a candidates is not able to properly concentrate for a particular attempt.

That should not result in waste of one year. But multiple exams cannot be conducted on pen and paper mode. It will have to be computer-based.”

Khare said offering NEET-UG multiple times and on computers “requires consultation with all the stakeholders because there is a difference between JEE and NEET. JEE is not compulsory for all engineering colleges, whereas NEET is mandatory for admission to all medical colleges. Also suppose a biology student is not comfortable with a computer, they need to practise and learn. That is why for any changes, we will give six to eight months’ notice. Only then we will bring out a change,” he said.

The ministry is looking forward to bringing in changes in 2022.

Stating that the exams will be held in June or July by the National Testing Agency, Khare said: “This year, if we change the pattern, we will not be able to conduct it in June or July. Students have taken coaching, they have prepared in a certain fashion and obviously a sudden pattern change will be unfair.”

He said date for NEET-UG this year will be announced soon.

CHANGES ONLY IN 2022

CISCE announces exam dates

New Delhi/Kolkata: The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) released this year’s examination date sheet on Monday. It will allow its classes X and XII boards candidates to take their seats in the exam rooms five minutes before the start.

Both ICSE and ISC 2021 theory papers will begin from May 5. While ICSE (Class X) will end on June 7, ISC (Class XII) will be completed on June16. “I waited for the Chief Election Commissioner to announce for the dates of the general elections in the states and thereafter, announced the ICSE and ISC schedule. We did not want any confusion. The candidates will have to get in touch with the school principals to know the date and time,” said chief executive and secretary of the council Gerry Arathoon. TNN