[NEET/JEE/University Exams] Over 4000 Students Resort To Hunger Strike, Political Leaders Appeal To Centre To Postpone Exams

Using the hashtag "SATYAGRAHagainstExamInCovid," students took to Twitter to highlight their grievances, including inaccessibility to their allotted test centers, risk of transmission not only among students but also to their parents, etc.

The development comes after the Central Government announced that it has no intention to postpone NEET 2020 and JEE (Main).

NEET, JEE Will Not Be Postponed: Union Ministry

Significantly, the Supreme Court has also refused to interfere in the matter, stating that postponement of the exams will put the "career of the students in peril".

Accordingly, NEET-2020 examination is scheduled to be held on September 13 and JEE (Main) Examination is scheduled from September 1, 2020 to September 6, 2020.

Several students demand that entrance examinations be postponed and this academic year be declared as the "zero year", given the spike in Covid cases.

Former Union Cabinet Minister, Subramanian Swamy also took to Twitter to express his views against conducting of entrance examinations amid the pandemic.

"There are a huge number of students or their family who have been infected with Covid 19 and have lost precious time to prepare and be ready, in addition to the inability to attend the exams due to quarantine rules," he said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted that "GOI must listen to the #StudentsKeMannKiBaat about NEET, JEE exams and arrive at an acceptable solution."

Congress Party Leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also wrote to the PM, seeking postponement of NEET, JEE. "The aspirants of national examination are under tremendous mental pressure as to how they could be remained immuned to the infection while attending the examination physically. Right at this pandemic situation their concerns should be given due consideration," he wrote.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia also appealed to Education Minister, Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, to cancel the entrance exams in view of the COVID-19 situation and make an alternative arrangement for admission this year.

The issue of creating overseas test centers for the NEET examination is also pending consideration before the Top Court, and is listed for hearing today.

The Supreme Court also last week dismissed a plea seeking a direction upon the CBSE to not force the students of class 10th and 12th in the compartment category, to appear in the compartment examination.

[Compartment Exams] SC Dismisses Plea Seeking Cancellation Of Compartment Exam

Reportedly, student representatives of some universities, including Hyderabad Central University, Aligarh Muslim University and JNU, have written to the National Testing Agency over issues pertaining to the recently declared exam date of UGC NET.