NEET 2020 During COVID-19: AIIMS medical experts outline SOP for exam day

NEW DELHI: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has sought the assistance of the experts from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) with devising a standard operating procedure (SOP) for The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET 2020), reported the Economic Times. An SOP has been drawn up on the basis of recommendations made by a panel of medical experts from AIIMS and is likely to be used in all other major entrance exams such as JEE and UGC.

With 16.84 lakh registered candidates and the COVID-19 crisis on the rise, NTA is set to conduct the only medical entrance examination in the country following the safety measures prescribed in the SOP. One of these is doubling the number of exam centres from 2,600 to 4,500 to enable social distancing. Aspirants can check the list of safety measures suggested by the experts of AIIMS below.

List of SOP recommended by the experts
The official exam day guidelines will be released by NTA a few days before NEET 2020 exam day in the form of PDF. However, according to the Economic Times report, these are the most important guidelines in the SOP.

Guidelines while entering the NEET examination hall

• Along with the NEET admit card and ID, the candidate must come with a face mask on and bring gloves and a small hand sanitiser.

• The admit card for NEET 2020 will indicate a time slot for reporting at the examination centre to ensure staggered timings.

• Examinees will enter the exam centre in batches of 30 -- 15 girls and 15 boys. Their temperature will be checked

• There will be no physical frisking - a departure from standard protocol.

• Over 9,000 hand-held metal detectors will check for listening devices

• Bluetooth and wifi presence will be checked and there will be jammers and CCTVs

• The candidates will be asked to show their admit card for verification and briefly remove the mask to allow the security staff to ensure that it is not an impersonation.

• Any aspirants with a temperature above normal will be placed in a separate room for the exam.

Guidelines for inside the NEET examination hall

• Deep sanitization of each exam centre before and after the exam.

• Sanitizers placed at several points.

• Seating plan will ensure social distancing.

• There will be videography/CCTV live streaming and two invigilators per 12 applicants

• Attendance and handwriting sample will be taken at the seat.

• Each question paper will also come with a fresh surgical mask for the candidate to use while writing the exam.

• There will also be stricter washroom and drinking water management.

• Students will be asked to bring their own (transparent) water bottles and an invigilator will accompany a candidate to the washroom

• Washroom staff will insist on hand washing before exiting the toilet.

• All exam staff will come with masks and gloves and everyone will get food and water from home.

• No disposable cutlery will be permitted and refreshments will have to be taken a designated place outside of rooms.

NEET 2020 is scheduled to be conducted on September 13 for admission to 82,926 MBBS, 26,949 BDS, 52,720 AYUSH and 525 BVSc & AH offered in colleges of India. The admit card for NEET will be released by the authority 15 days prior to the exam. Please keep in touch with Careers360 to know the latest news and updates regarding NEET 2020.

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