No, NEET 2020 Cannot Be Held Online Or Overseas: NTA Tells Supreme Court

No, NEET 2020 Cannot Be Held Online Or Overseas: NTA Tells Supreme Court 

By Meghna A Singhania

Published On 14 Aug 2020 8:50 AM 

New Delhi: Filing a counter-affidavit in the Supreme Court, the National Testing Authority, the exam conducting body for NEET has clearly stated that its not possible for it to conduct NEET 2020 online, nor be able to arrange centres for it overseas. 

The response comes after the apex court issued a notice to the NTA as well as the Medical Council of India (MCI) to respond in a plea, filed by parents of nearly 4,000 NEET (undergraduate) overseas candidates, who sought centres at Gulf countries or to alternatively postpone the examination until the COVID-19 pandemic normalises. 

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that the same issue was placed before the Kerala High court, where the National Testing Agency (NTA) and MCI informed the Kerala High Court that arranging examination centres for National eligibility cum entrance test (NEET) in abroad is not practical since it is not feasible to conduct NEET online in a single shift for all candidates. The authorities also told the court that allotting exam centres for this upcoming MBBS entrance test, is not possible as it takes meticulous planning and the exam is about to be held next month; which evidently gives them not enough time. 

Based on the submissions, the Kerala HC dismissed the appeal of the students, following which the students and parents approached the Supreme Court. The court in return asked the government and the council to respond on the matter. 

Now, responding to the plea the NTA stated that it has been mandated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to conduct the National- Eligibility-Entrance Test [NEET (UG)] across the country, as a uniform entrance examination, for admission to all medical courses in all Medical Institutions, as per the norms/ regulations of the Medical Council of India (MCI). 

As per the initial announcement, the NEET (UG) 2020 was scheduled to be conducted on 03.05.2020. However, in view of the countrywide lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic, the NEET-UG 2020 was postponed and the same was announced by the answering respondent through its Public Notice dated 27.03.2020. Subsequently, the NEET (UG) 2020 was rescheduled for 26.07.2020, vide public notice dated 20.05.2020.Its result may accordingly be declared by 25.08.2020. 

The dates for counselling may be fixed by DGHS thereafter. 

The NTA further informed that the petitioners had approached the NTA with the same request whereby the NTA asked the MCI to consider whether the NEET (UG)- 2020 could be conducted in online mode by NTA for such candidates in their respective cities abroad on the same date and time (1ST) as fixed for the students appearing in India." However, the MCI in its responding letter to the NTA stated 

The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) is a uniform entrance examaintion. This examination is conducted through Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) in paper book format given to all candidates. This uniformity has to be maintained for all candidates. According to the BoG, MCI is of the view that this examination should not be conducted in online mode by National Testing Agency (NTA) for candidates abroad." 

The NTA in its submission to the court further stated 

The answering respondent submits that the manner as to how examinations have to be conducted is a policy decision and, is, purely within the domain of the examining body viz., MCI and whether centres for conducting such examination should be provided in foreign countries, is in the province of MCI, to decide. MCI has taken its decision and, there is nothing on record which shows that the said decision of MCI is arbitrary or illegal particularly in the light of fact NEET (UG) is a uniform entrance examination and, to maintain uniformity for all candates, it has to be conducted at the same time, on the same day, throughout India. It was for this reason that the said examination cannot be conducted in online mode. The answering respondent further submits that the examination cannot be conducted in abroad citites due to the fact, as already stated, NEET (UG) has to be conducted in single shift at the same time, on the same day to maintain uniformity and, further, the questions papers and other exam materials are to be transported from NTA headquarters to a large number of examination centres in various citites, which would require meticulous planning for safe and secured delivery of the same at the examination centres on time. 

Further responding to the contention that JEE is also held online and hence NEET can also be held on the same pattern the NTA noted 

JEE (Main) is conducted in online mode in various cities in India and outside India as per the scheme of things. However, the NEET (UG) is being conducted in paperback format ever since. Further, 

the JEE (Main) is a joint entrance examination for admission to Undergraduate Engineering Programs at NITs, IIITs, IITs, other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs). Whereas, NEET (UG) is being conducted as a uniform entrance examination for admission to all medical courses in all Medical Institutions across the country. No parity can be drawn between JEE (Main), which is for a non-medical course and NEET (UG) which is for a medical course. The number of seats in engineering colleges in comparison to number of seats in medical colleges within the country are much more. Thus medical seats attract stiffer competition compared to engineering seats. Unlike for JEE (Main), the question papers and other exam materials for NEET (UG) have to be transported from NTA Headquarter to the large number of examination centres in various cities, which would require meticulous planning for safe and secured delivery of the same at the examination centres on time. Whereas, such rigorous preparations are not required for JEE (Main), for which the Question Papers can be delivered to the Examination Centres half an hour before the examination in password protected online mode. Comparatively much more preparations are required to be made for the smooth conduct of the NEET (UG). Also as per the norms of MCI, NEET (UG) has to be conducted in single shift on a single day, in order to obtain the same level of difficulty in question paper for all candidates. It is respectfully submitted that around 15 lakhs candidates appear for NEET (UG ) every year and 15,97,426 candidates have registered for NEET (UG) 2020, whereas about 8 lakh candidates appear for JEE(Main). Since there are large number of candidates (more than 15 lacs), it is not feasible to conduct NEET (UG) 2020 in online mode in single shift for all candidates, in order to maintain the same difficulty level. Therefore, there is no discrimination between the candidates of NEET (UG) and JEE (Main) nor there is any violation of the fundamental rights of the candidates of NEET (UG) as claimed in the writ petition. JEE(Main) and NEET(UG) are two separate class of examinations. Therefore, NEET (UG) cannot be conducted in the same manner as JEE(Main). In the light of the foregoing, it is respectfully submitted that it is not possible to have examination centres abroad including in Gulf Countries, for NEET-UG 2020 

[Breaking] Karnataka HC Refuses To Postpone COMEDK Exam Scheduled On August 19

[Breaking] Karnataka HC Refuses To Postpone COMEDK Exam Scheduled On August 19 

Mustafa Plumber

13 Aug 2020 5:10 PM 

The High Court of Karnataka on Thursday refused to postpone the COMEDK test scheduled to be conducted by Consortium of Medical, Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK) on August 19. 

The Court dismissed a PIL filed by Advocate Abdulla Mannan Khan, which voiced the apprehension that conduct of the test would expose students to the risk of COVID-19. 

While giving a go-ahead to COMEDK, the Court directed the authorities to take all precautions for the safe conduct of the exam. 

The bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Ravi Hosmani observed in the as follows: 

"At the outset we find that there is a delay in the examination being conducted. In normal times the exam would have been conducted in April-May. 

State Government has conducted SSLC exam and KCET. It is on that basis that COMEDK, which is a consortium of private professional colleges, has decided to conduct the exam on August 19. 

This court in its order of July 29 has also taken note of SOP that was made available for the conduct of said exams (KCET) and thereafter rejected the interim prayer to stay KCET". 

The Court further added : 

"It is no doubt that the pandemic has affected everybody not only in this country but world over. But at the same time with the passage of time Central/state govt as well as citizens have now got accustomed to carry on with life/administration etc, by taking all precautions it is in that light that we have to view the conduct of examinations for entrance test for various professional colleges or such other entrance test". 

The Court recorded that COMEDK exam is being conducted across India in 342 centres for 20,000 seats and seven universities. 

At the beginning of the hearing, the bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Ravi Hosmani pointed out that no student has approached the HC seeking the cancellation of the test, and asked why an advocate has filed the petition. 

"Why do advocates become parties. Ask the students to become petitioners and you become their Advocate", the bench told the petitioner. 

The bench also pointed out that the Court has already permitted the State Government to conduct the Karnataka Common Entrance Test on July 30. 

"If we stay this exam the candidates will suffer", the bench remarked. 

The counsel for the COMEDK submitted that exam was sought to be stayed at the instance of about ten students and that the case was not in "public interest" but was only a "publicity stunt". He told the bench that Tata Consultancy was conducting the exam and they are best in following all the safety guidelines. Test is only conducted for 119 professional private colleges, with 20,000 seats, he submitted. 

The PIL stated that around 70,000-80,000 students will be writing the exams, and the decision to hold the test on August 19 will result in putting the students to the grave danger of COVID19. 

It is stated that "there is no immediate urgency to conduct the COMEDK 2020 as it will not have any effect on the students' academic future." 

"India is raging with the pandemic situation of COVID 19 having cases almost 21,70,688 cumulatively with an addition of almost forty thousand cases per day,Karnataka alone having 1,78,087cases with Almost 3198 deaths and with daily addition of almost 4000 new cases", states the petition. 

COMEDK has 300 Centres spread all over India, with students appearing for the examination from various States. 

The petitioner alleges that there were lapses in maintaining social distancing during the recently.held KCET exam. It is also pointed out that the National testing agency has already postponed the national level entrance tests like JEE, NEET, AIBE, CLAT owing to the dreadful COVID-19 prevailing in the country, 

"It is submitted that Article 21 of the Constitution of India ensure one's right to life which also includes to protect one self, and also government itself if asking the individuals to stay home unless it is very important and this COMEDK is a Manufactured Event for the Student to them in a havoc", the plea states.

[Breaking] Karnataka HC Refuses To Postpone COMEDK Exam Scheduled On August 19

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Baalu writes to Union health minister on FMG exams

Baalu writes to Union health minister on FMG exams

Chennai:14.08.2020

DMK parliamentary party leader T R Baalu on Thursday wrote to Union health minister Harsha Vardhan urging him to issue early notification of examination centres for candidates taking up the Foreign Medical Graduate Exam (FMGE), 2020, slated for August 31.

“Some of the FMGE candidates used to be allotted exam centres in neighbouring states in the past. Travelling long distances has become costly in the absence of public transport. While inter-district travel requires e-passes, their availability has become next to impossible for the poor and common people,” Baalu said. Considering the difficulties, he urged the minister to notify exam centres early and help candidates from Tamil Nadu write exams at centres within the state. TNN

Ambattur, Alandur zones record rise in active cases

Ambattur, Alandur zones record rise in active cases

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:14.08.2020

At a time when the number of active Covid-19 cases across zones of Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is decreasing, Ambattur and Alandur zones are the only ones to record an increase in active cases over the last two weeks, corporation data shows.

Interestingly, these are zones which managed to buck the trend of a wide spread of Covid-19 during the months of April and May, but are now showing an uptick.

In fact, as on Thursday morning, Ambattur had the highest number of active cases (1,475) in the city. This forms 20% of the total cases in the zone so far.

Meanwhile, Alandur has 569 active cases which formed 15% of the case load so far.

While Ambattur had 1,266 active cases exactly two weeks ago, Alandur had 563, a minor increase of only six cases. This comes at a time when eight of the 15 zones have 10 or lesser percentage of active cases. These zones are Tiruvottiyur, Manali, Tondiarpet, Royapuram, TVK Nagar, Anna Nagar, Teynampet and Kodambakkam. The total number of active cases in the city is only 10,953 as on Thursday morning, which is only 10% of the total number of cases so far.

Official sources say that in Ambattur zone, the wards which are proving to be a headache for control are 80, 82, 83, 87 and 88. This includes the Padi area where many cases have come up, say sources. Around 300 cases in the last two weeks have been detected at the fever camps alone.

As a means of tackling this, Greater Chennai Corporation has started increasing awareness of fever camps in the city. This has meant that the average number of outpatients per camp in Ambattur is now the highest in the city.

Sources say that since this is an industrialised area, many of the infections are spreading through the factory workers.

In Alandur, officials say that the number of fresh cases being recorded everyday is dropping and the trend shows a decline in the spread, despite a slight increase in the number of active cases. Sources said that the number of active cases has dropped from 18% to 15% in two weeks.

As on Thursday morning, Ambattur had the highest number of active cases (1,475) in the city. This forms 20% of the total cases in the zone so far

SRM hospital inks MoU on eye treatment

SRM hospital inks MoU on eye treatment

Chennai:  14.08.2020

SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre (SRMMCHRC) and Aravind Eye Hospital signed an MoU to provide regular retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening for high-risk babies by a team of experts on its campus in Kattankulathur.

SRMMCHRC said Aravind Eye Hospital will provide a team of experts and expertise to conduct the screening at SRM’s Kattakulatur campus. Apart from screening, experts from the eye hospital will provide treatment advice, perform interventions in the form of laser or intravitreal injection or surgery free of cost.

Pro vice-chancellor (Medical) Dr A Ravi Kumar said, “The idea is to catch the illness early and treat it. This process is a welcoming effort, and this opens new avenues for treatment.”

Dr Prabhu Baskaran, vitreoretinal surgeon from Aravind Eye Hospital, said ROP screening will be done by a trained technician while the intervention will be done by a doctor. TNN