Exams in 2020: COVID-19, protests and the Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: As the end of 2020 draws near, the number of people infected with the coronavirus is about to reach one crore, with more than 1.4 lakh deaths and over four lakh active cases. Despite that, schools, colleges and universities across states are attempting to hobble back to normal functioning. Educational institutions in over a dozen states have already reopened partially, with strict safety protocols and low attendance. Having soldiered through this year, exam conducting bodies are now planning for JEE Main 2021 , NEET and school board exams .

When the prime minister, Narendra Modi, announced the first 21 days nationwide lockdown on March 23, the number of infected cases was 500 with 12 deaths. Schools and colleges were closed just a week before they were to be opened for the new session. The national engineering and medical entrance examinations, Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main and National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), were to be held with a combined registration of 26 lakh candidates. Universities and colleges were also gearing up for their end and even-semester examinations.

The education ministry postponed all the examinations to July including the pending Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) Class 10 and 12 examinations. Through a set of guidelines issued on July 6, the University Grants Commission (UGC) made holding final semester examinations compulsory for all universities -- a move deeply resented and bitterly fought by several states.The National Testing Agency (NTA) also announced it will conduct the JEE Main and NEET in September.

The prospect of travelling to exam centres and writing public exams caused panic among students and parents. First they protested online, then petitioned the government and finally moved the Supreme Court. Here is a timeline of court cases fought, won or lost by students in this extraordinary year.

April 29: The UGC issues the first exam-related guidelines and a revised academic calendar for universities. Institutions asked to hold the terminal exam in July and evaluate students of intermediate semesters based on internal assessment

July 6: UGC issues revised exam guidelines making final-year or final-semester college and university exams compulsory. Exams can be offline, online or in blended mode

July 18: Youth wing of Shiv Sena, Yuva Sena moves SC citing the risks posed by holding exams during the coronavirus pandemic and challenges of organising university exams. Plea asks that states be allowed to decide on exams

July 20: India Wide Parents' Association also moves SC , demands all exams be scrapped and students evaluated internally

Aug 6: 11 students file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in SC demanding postponement of JEE Main and NEET 2020, both scheduled for September, to December

Aug 9: Group of students, parents file counter plea in SC against postponement of JEE Main, NEET 2020

Aug 17: After the matter was postponed twice, SC dismisses students’ pleas seeking postponement of NEET, JEE Main.

Aug 18: The SC reserves its order on whether all universities must follow UGC guidelines on exams

Aug 26: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh announces the state government will file a review petition in SC against the verdict on JEE Main and NEET.

Aug 28: Supreme Court upholds UGC’s July 6 guidelines that made holding exams compulsory for final-year students for all universities. SC rules that students cannot be promoted or granted degrees without exams. The SC also allows states to approach the UGC for extension of the deadline for holding exams

Six states file a review petition in Supreme Court demanding postponement of NEET and JEE examinations in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The states are West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Maharashtra

Sept 1: JEE Main 2020 begins

Sept 2: The ministry of health and family welfare issues detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs) to conduct exams . The SOPs recommend using face masks, social distancing and respiratory etiquette

Sep 4: Supreme Court dismisses the states’ review petition.

Sept 6: JEE Main 2020 ends

Sept 13: NEET 2020 is held

Also read:

• Goa Class 10, 12 state board exams to be held in April-May
• Delhi school principals happy with govt's decision to not hold board exams till Feb 2021

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