The 2020 NEET and JEE candidates had an opportunity to change their exam centres five times, owing to the pandemic, said the National Testing Agency on Friday. It also said that most students (99.87 NEET candidates and 99.07 JEE candidates) were offered their preferred exam centres and that the exams will be held on the scheduled dates, following all the COVID-related SOPs.

"As many as 649223 (JEE) candidates have downloaded their Admit Cards so far, against a total number of 858273," it said in a press release. "Based on the MHRD’s (now MoEs) Guidelines for Conduct of Examinations, the NTA has made elaborate arrangements to sanitise the centres before and after the conduct of the examinations, give fresh masks and hand gloves (as per request). The NTA has also prepared a comprehensive Advisory regarding COVID-19 for All Functionaries for centre management. This Advisory has also been developed based on the MHRD’s Guidelines," it reads.

Along with the admit card, the NTA has also issued ‘Important Instructions for Candidates’ as well as ‘Advisory for Candidates regarding COVID-19’ explaining them about the safety measures taken.

The release also quoted the Supreme Court's judgment, while dismissing a petition, that sought the postponement of the examination. “We find that there is absolutely no justification in the prayer made for postponement of the examination in question relating to NEET UG-2020 as well as JEE (Main) April 2020. In our opinion, though there is a pandemic situation, ultimately life has to go and the career of the students cannot be put on peril for the long and full academic year cannot be wasted.” “…the examination is going to be held with due precaution and it is not going to be postponed. Thus, we find no merit in the writ petition," the court said.