The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday said that the NEET (UG) and JEE (Main) examinations will be held next month as per schedule in view of the academic interest of the students.

Moreover, the NTA has also released an advisory for smooth conduction of the examinations amid the coronavirus pandemic.

It is mandatory for all the candidates to wear masks and gloves and carry personal transparent water bottles and personal small hand sanitizers with them in addition to carrying the exam-related documents.

“All staff members and candidates to be checked with Thermo guns at the entry point for fever. In case, any staff person and candidate is observed to be having above-normal temperature (>37.5°C/99.4°F) or displaying any symptom of COVID-19 suspect, they will be placed in separate Isolation Room,” the advisory said.

JEE Main 2020 is scheduled from September 1 to 6 and NEET 2020 is scheduled for September 13.

“The number of examination centres have also been increased from 570 to 660 (for JEE Main 2020) and 2,546 to 3843 (for NEET 2020). While JEE Mains Exam is a computer-based test, NEET 2020 is a pen-paper test,” said NTA in a statement.

“Additionally, in the case of JEE Mains 2020, the number of shifts has been increased from the earlier 8 to 12, and the number of candidates per shift has been reduced from earlier 1.32 lakh to 85,000 now,” it said.

“In order to ensure proper social distancing inside the examination halls, the candidates will be seated in alternate seats in case of JEE Mains. In the case of NEET 2020, the number of candidates per room has been reduced from 24 to 12,” the statement added.

The NTA also said that adequate arrangements have also been made outside the examination centres to enable candidates to stand with adequate social distancing while waiting.

Meanwhile, many students have been staging protests across the country seeking postponement of NEET (UG) and JEE (Main) examinations.

Environmental and climate activist Greta Thunberg tweeted her support in the postponement of the upcoming JEE Main 2020 and NEET 2020 exams.

“It’s deeply unfair that the students of India are asked to sit for national exams during the Covid-19 pandemic and while millions have also been impacted by the extreme floods.” Greta tweeted