NEET 2021: Latest Developments On The Medical Entrance Exam

After the Education minister gave out the dates for JEE Main and Advanced, students have been wondering about NEET 2021. The medical entrance examination is currently the only route to take admissions in medical colleges. Thus, there are many questions from the students. Will the Medical Entrance Test happen? Will Govt increase the Number of Attempts like JEE Main 2021? The mode of the exams - PBT or CBT? etc etc.

So, here's what we know so far from what the Ministry has said/hinted.

1. Multiple exams

The Government has hinted that they are looking at the probability to conduct NEET 2021 twice this year. In a conversation with India TV, Ramesh Pokhriyal said, "We are exploring all the possibilities of conducting the exam twice a year, keeping in view concerns of students."

Further, NTA even wrote to the Union Health Ministry to ask/suggest multiple sessions of NEET 2021. It said the move would lessen the immense stress and pressure on students.

2. Date announcement

Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has also hinted that he may announce the exam date in the next 10-15 days. Many reports speculate that the dates of NEET 2021 will be announced by the end of this month. However, no official notification regarding the announcement is out so far.  Last year, the exam was held on September 13 after its twice postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the exam always happens after the 12th board exams, the exam will likely happen in July.

3. Online exams

Throughout history, NEET only happened as paper and pen exam. But the pandemic has shifted the education sector to online. Thus, many experts, teachers and students have demanded that the exams for NEET 2021 happen online as well. The ministry has not responded to the subject, but we expect Mr Pokhriyal to shed light on the issue as well when he announces the date for NEET 2021.

4. Number of languages

Last year, the test was offered in 11 languages -- English, Urdu, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Odia, Marathi, Kannada, Gujarati, Tamil and Telugu. It will continue to do so.

5. Eligibility Criteria

With amendments in 2018 for NEET 2021 eligibility criteria, the restrictions on the number of attempts for NEET was removed. Therefore there is no restriction on the number of attempts for NEET 2021. So, as per the NEET 2021 eligibility criteria, candidates will be allowed to appear for the entrance exam as many times as they would like to only if they are eligible.

The basic eligibility requires that students have 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology in their Class 12 or HSC examination.

6. Social distancing norms

In September exams, there were only 12 students assigned to one class to maintain social distancing. With the SOPs in line, the same will be followed in NEET 2021 as well.