Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal on Tuesday defended the centre’s move to go ahead with JEE (Main) and NEET, which are scheduled to be held next month. The minister said, they had been “under constant pressure from parents and students”, who were asking why the government was not going forward with the exams.

The Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) for admission to engineering courses and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to medical courses, were to be held in May-June, but were postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak. JEE is scheduled to be held from September 1 to 6, while NEET will be conducted on September 13.

While talking to the government broadcaster DD News, Nishank said, “We have been under constant pressure from parents and students, asking why we are not allowing JEE and NEET. The students were very worried. In their minds, they were thinking for how long will they continue to study?”

He claimed 80% of the students who will appear in JEE, have already downloaded the admit card. The National Testing Agency released admit cards for JEE on August 17. 

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“Out of 8.58 lakh students who registered for JEE, 7.25 lakh candidates have downloaded their admit cards. We are with students. Their safety comes first, then their education,” the Education Minister said.

On the security measures being put in place, he said students appearing for the two exams will have to wear masks, gloves and carry a personal bottle of water and hand sanitiser to the exam centre.

The entry to the centre will be staggered and students will go through a thermal scan. For those whose body temperature is high, isolation rooms will be set up.

Several politicians and activists have raised concerns over conducting exams in the middle of a global pandemic. Also, several states are battling floods, which has made the situation harder.

Congress’ Rahul Gandhi, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee have urged the central government to postpone the exams.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg on Tuesday, tweeted, “It’s deeply unfair that students of India are asked to sit national exams during the Covid-19 pandemic and while millions have also been impacted by the extreme floods. I stand with their call to #PostponeJEE NeetinCOVID.”

Meanwhile, the NTA has released dates for six other exams, including for UGC NET and the Delhi University Entrance Test (DUET). These will be held in September-October.