Imphal, 13 September 2020 (Evening News ) : National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, NEET 2020 is being held all over the country today. Around 16 lakhs students registered for the medical entrance exam conducted by National Test Agency. The exam which started from 2PM will be held till 5PM. The Entrance Exam is also being held at different centres for Manipur amid strict precautions taken up in view of the COVID19 pandemic. Students were made to maintain physical distancing, they were asked to wear masks, use hand sanitiser and hand gloves. Only one student was allotted on a bench and the benches maintain a safe distance. But parents and guardians of the students were seen standing in groups outside the exam centres even if there were police personnels outside the centres.

National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test is held over the country today for admission to the undergraduate medical courses. Over 15 lakh candidates are expected to appear in the medical entrance exam which are conducted amid strict precautions in view of the COVID1-9 pandemic. In order to maintain social distancing, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has increased the number of exam centres from 2 thousand 5 hundred 46 to 3 thousand 8 hundred 43, while the number of candidates per room has been reduced from earlier 24 to 12. The crucial exam was deferred twice in view of the pandemic. Candidates have also been issued an advisory guiding them about the 'dos and don'ts' for proper social distancing. Making hand sanitisers available at the entrance of the examination centre and inside the exam hall at all times, replacing the process of checking the admit cards of candidates with barcode readers, increasing the number of examination centres, alternate seating plans, fewer candidates per room and staggered entry and exit are among the steps taken for the exam.