NEET 2020 to be held on 26th July 2020, details

The announcement to this effect was made by the Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank on May 5th during a webinar with students.

"As many as 16.84 lakh candidates have filled forms to appear in NEET (UG)-2020 that will be conducted by the National Testing Agency for admissions to MBBS/BDS courses and other undergraduate medical courses in approved/recognised medical/dental in other colleges/ institutes in India," the Minister said in the online interaction.

The largest entrance examination for UG medical courses, National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is the gateway for admissions to medical (MBBS), dental (BDS), and AYUSH courses in the country. The test will be conducted as per regulations of the Indian Medical Council Act-1956 and the Dentists Act-1948, and as amended from time to time. This year, the admission to MBBS course in AIIMS, New Delhi, JIPMER and all AIIMS like institutions will also be made through NEET.

NEET 2020 was earlier postponed from its scheduled date, May 3; in view of the ongoing deadly coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent lockdown. The National Testing Agency, (NTA) the exam conducting body for NEET, was to issue admit cards to medical and dental candidates in April, but the process was not taken up as the MHRD decided to postpone the exam due to coronavirus scare.

Read also: NEET 2020 Syllabus Not Changed: NTA Issues Clarification

Later, a nationwide lockdown was announced from March 25 which will last till May 17. Consequently, anxious students and parents have been raising their concerns and seeking clarification regarding rescheduling of exams.

Now, with the declaration of the dates for the entrance exams, the candidates can now focus on their preparations.

In view of the syllabus for NEET 2021 being curtailed, the minister during the webinar advised students to self-study and take help of online learning platforms including SWAYAM and Diksha that have been developed by the MHRD to help students continue their learning processes at home, reports UNI. Mr Pokhriyal also clarified that academic curriculum for next year has been curtailed and revised syllabus has been announced by the respective agencies. In low-connectivity areas, the content will be telecast through SWAYAM Prabha TV, he said.

The candidates will also not have to move to other cities/town to appear in entrance/competitive exams for various academic courses as the NTA has provided for the same. Candidates in different entrance exams will be allowed to mention in the online forms their preferred exam centres and cities where they wish to appear. Depending on the availability, they will be allotted the same, reports IANS.

Watch the online interaction by the Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank: