New Delhi: After Dharmendra Pradhan, took over as the new Education Minister in PM Modis Cabinet Rejig, several major entrance exams including the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET 2021) has been tentatively rescheduled until further notice.

The entrance exams for medical aspirants were earlier scheduled on August 1. The exam conducting department, National Testing Agency in an official circular said, “still in consultation with the concerned Stakeholders for finalizing a suitable date for the conduct of NEET (UG) – 2021, keeping in view the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic”. 

As per regular practice, online application forms would be issued 60 days ahead of the exam. This would enable students to fill the application forms and would aid the organizing agencies to issue admit cards and allot exam centers to the students based on the number of applications.

The NTA further added that it would very “soon” announce the dates of the online application and examination pertaining to which the students could register themselves for the exam.

Amidst the demands of postponing the medical entrance exams till October, a circular floated claiming that the NEET exam would be postponed till September. However, the NTA has cited the circular to be fake and in an official notice informed, “the fake/unauthorized public notice has been viewed seriously by the NTA, as it is being circulated by some unscrupulous elements with a motive to misguide the aspiring candidates/parents/guardians/public at large. 

Additionally, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank during his term as the education minister had informed restructuring of the question paper for the medical entrance exam.  However, no change in the syllabus of JEE and NEET was announced.