The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has decided to postpone entrance exams including JNU, UGC, NET and IGNOU PhD and several others keeping in mind the lockdown.
Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishanksaid: “The Director General of National Testing Agency has been advised topostpone the last date for submission of applications for variousexaminations”.
The Union Minister said: “This includes admissionexaminations of Jawaharlal Nehru University UGC NET, IGNOU PhD, ICAR exam,NCHM-G and management course.” The deadline for all these exams has beenextended by one month.
The Ministry of Human Resource Development has also directedthe CBSE, NIOS and NTA to prepare a revised schedule of examinations. Alongwith this, autonomous bodies and the NCERT have been asked to prepare an alternativeacademic calendar.
The Ministry has taken this step so that all students canapply for these exams with ease and accessibility.
In view of the risk of coronavirus infection, the Centralgovernment has also decided to postpone the NEET examinations. Admission cardswere to be issued for the NEET exams but have not been issued. Now, theMinistry has issued a notice to postpone the examinations.
“After the nationwide lockdown is implemented, it is nolonger possible to conduct this type of examination,” said a seniorofficial.
The JEE Main examinations have also been postponed. TheIndira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has extended the last date forsubmission of the form for the term-end examination to be held on April 30,2020 without any late fee. Students can submit the June TEE examination formson the official website of IGNOU. The deadline for submission of assignmentshas also been extended to April 30.Asenior official of the Ministry said: “In compliance with the order issuedby the Ministry of Home Affairs on March 24, all the offices of the Ministry ofHuman Resource Development and its autonomous and subordinate institutions willremain closed for a period of three weeks.”