Last updated on May 4th, 2020 at 05:28 pm

As per the latest developments and a recent tweet by Press Trust of India (PTI), HRD ministry will announce the new dates for JEE Main 2020 April session on 5th May 2020. The release of JEE Main new dates is coming amid the 3rd lockdown announced by the government until 17th May 2020. Along with JEE Main, the HRD Ministry will also announce dates for NEET 2020. Both of these exams have been postponed due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the country, until the end of May as per the official notice. While Union HRD Minister, Mr Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, has stated that the exams will likely be conducted in June 2020.

COVID-19 lockdown: HRD Ministry to announce fresh dates for JEE, NEET on May 5

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 3, 2020

Reactions concerning safety of students

In response to the tweet above, reactions poured in concerning the health of students. Many users were concerned about risking lives of students as the exams will ultimately lead to breaking social distancing which is being considered the ‘new normal’ to combat against the fatal COVID-19 disease.

A few reactions also came in regarding lockdown by a few states. Recently, UP CM Yogi Adityanath had announced there will be no public gatherings until June 30. Students were concerned about how the exams will be conducted with these disputes in lockdown among states and the central government.

@HRDMinistry @DrRPNishank why so early announcing the tentative dates? Let’s things settle down then exam can be conducted, Italy Spain announced schools / colleges not gonna open before October, Don’t risk life of lakhs of students

— Rahul (@WOB5555) May 3, 2020

@HRDMinistry @DrRPNishank Please let the pandemic end first. Many students are living in such a place where there is no communication at all and many are also in red zone.

Let this COVID19 cases end.

— Suzaan Ahmed (@ahmed_suzaan) May 3, 2020

Many students also considered this as a good initiative as this will put an end to the anxiety among candidates. Students will be able to focus on studies and will have some assurance regarding the future of admissions in their dream college.

Safety measures will be taken

It is likely that the new dates announced for both JEE Main as well as NEET will be for exams being conducted in or after June 2020. Government, as well as the HRD Ministry, must have prepared for the precautionary measures to be taken to conduct these examinations. With lockdown being eased for Orange and Green zones of the country, it seems possible that the examination will be conducted soon. Moreover, to ensure that sanitization is followed, NTA might conduct the examinations in a single shift under a long set of at least 10 to 14 days.