NTA tells HC no online NEET 2020; no exam centres abroad: reports

NEW DELHI: The National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Medical Council of India (MCI) on June 23, 2020, stated to the Kerala High Court, that alloting examination centres abroad including in the Gulf countries, for the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2020 will not be possible as reported by The Hindu.

The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was earlier filed in Kerala HC in order to seek a decision on the sanction of examination centres in Gulf countries. Due to the lockdown situation, many aspirants are finding it difficult to travel internationally. However, the authorities have clearly stated that no exam centres will be allotted abroad.

Taking the request of aspirants into consideration, Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, had earlier urged the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to allot NEET exam centres in UAE and other gulf countries.

NEET not to be conducted in online mode
As reported by The Hindu, the authorities further made submissions that NEET UG 2020 will only be conducted in the offline mode which is the pen and paper mode. As many as 16.84 lakh aspirants are going to appear for India’s biggest medical entrance examination which is scheduled to be conducted on July 26, 2020.

The entrance exam is conducted for admission to 82,926 MBBS, 26,949 BDS, 52,720 AYUSH and 525 BVSc & AH offered in colleges of India.

NEET 2020 new exam date after Tuesday
Amid various requests by the students, as well as, by the parents in regards to the postponement of the entrance exam, the authorities are expected to announce the NEET 2020 exam fresh dates after June 25, as the Supreme Court hearing on CBSE's stand on conducting the remaining board exam has been deferred till June 25, 2:00 PM. The earlier reports by The Indian Express suggested that the internal meetings with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the health ministry have already been going on to decide a fresh exam schedule for the NEET 2020.