Responding to an RTI query on Thursday, the National Testing Agency clarified that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test will be conducted only once a year. Previously, while talking to a few media houses, the NTA chief Vineet Joshi had said that the NTA may hold the exam twice a year, like JEE (Mains).

The NTA has now clarified this answering the RTI query of a medical student Vivek Pandey. "NTA is conducting NEET (UG) on the behest of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and as per the relevant norms/guidelines/regulations of MCI so far. As per Section 14 (1) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019, the NEET (UG) is to be conducted as a uniform entrance examination for admission to undergraduate medical courses in all medical institutions. As per the existing norm NEET (UG) stands to be conducted once a year. NTA will continue to conduct the NEET (UG) once a year," it reads.

Recently, there was a huge outcry among students and parents, seeking a postponement of NEET 2020, considering a surge in COVID cases. After around 1.5 lakh aspirants missed the exam, a group of parents were demanding that the NTA conduct the exam twice a year to benefit the students who missed the exam and to avoid a rush. The NTA conducted a second test for those who were unable to write it this time, but only as a one-time measure.