HRD Minister announces JEE Mains & NEET exam dates ; “Self-study through digital portals – Diksha & Swayam”: Pokhariyal

DELHI: On Tuesday, the Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank started a live interaction by thanking the students for fighting bravely against the pandemic.

The major announcement made by the minister was about the dates for JEE Main and NEET exams. Informing the students, he said tha JEE Main will be held from July 18 to July 23 while the medical entrance test, NEET will be conducted on July 26. JEE Advanced is expected to be held in August, dates of which are not decided yet.

Over 9 lakh students have registered to appear for JEE Main and over 15.93 lakh have applied for NEET 2020, as per the National Testing Agency (NTA) – the exam conducting body.

Mr.Pokhariyal said that the dates for CBSE class 10 and 12 exams will be announced soon. He further informed that the syllabus will be reduced for the upcoming academic session as students have lost valuable academic time. This, the JEE Main and NEET 2021 will be held on the reduced syllabus.

Urging the students to self-study through the help of digital modes including SWAYAM, Diksha to prepare for entrance exams, he informed that  content will be telecasted through SWAYAM Prabha TV for the areas with low-connectivity.

“We are adding both school and college courses on SWAYAM portal and SWYAM Prabha – a television or DTH initiative that can telecast educational content on DD, tata sky, airtel TV and other platforms. This includes school level content from NCERT to college level curriculum,” the minister stated.

He further said that according to the UGC calendar it is suggested to conduct the college exams from July 1 and to start the new session in August. In areas highly affected even till July, the institutions can promote students on the basis of previous and internal exams.

Meanwhile, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced to extend the editing option of the online application forms of JEE Main, NEET, and has allowed candidates to choose the exam center of their choice in order to minimise any commute for the examinees and their parents .

To students’ relief, UGC has also set-up COVID-19 task force and has asked every institute to set-up a covid-19 helpline and force to help students.