17 L admit cards downloaded: Students want NEET, JEE held at any cost, claims Centre

Noting that over 17 lakh out of nearly 25 lakh candidates have already downloaded admit cards for the medical and engineering entrance exams, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ said his Ministry has been receiving e-mails from students and parents that these exams should not be further postponed.

 The Minister’s remarks came a day after seven Chief Ministers of non-BJP ruled states agreed to the need for filing a review petition urging the Supreme Court to reconsider its recent order rejecting the postponement of the competitive exams. Congress and various opposition parties have demanded

 that NEET and JEE examinations be deferred due to the pandemic and floods in parts of the country, even as the Union government has made it clear that they will be held as per schedule with due precautions.

 Meanwhile, accusing the Congress of playing politics, BJP general secretary Bhupender Yadav said the opposition party “believes students must lose a year so it doesn’t lose an opportunity for politics.”

Further delay in conducting medical and engineering entrance exams NEET and JEE will lead to a ‘zero academic year’ and any quick alternative to the crucial exams will dilute the quality of education and have cascading effects, according to Directors of several Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Amid the chorus for postponement of the two exams in view of the rising COVID-19 cases, the IIT Directors appealed to students to trust the institutions conducting the exam.