Indore (Madhya Pradesh): The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for admission into medical courses will be conducted on May 4, with significant changes and heightened security measures following reports of irregularities during last year’s exam.
The National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for organising NEET, has shifted the examination centers from private institutions to government schools and colleges in a bid to enhance transparency.
Indore district administration, under the direction of collector Asheesh Singh, has taken charge of overseeing the exam arrangements. SDMs, tehsildars and other magistrate-level officers have been deployed to all centers to maintain order and ensure compliance with guidelines.
Flying squads will conduct surprise inspections during the exam and all officers are required to submit detailed monitoring reports.
In preparation, officials have been instructed to inspect all centers a day prior to the exam. A control room has been established at the collectorate for coordination, under the supervision of joint collector Vijay Mandloi. Police personnel will also be stationed at the centers to bolster security.
Efforts are ongoing to install CCTV surveillance and biometric verification systems at all centers to further ensure the integrity of the examination process. Each NEET paper will last two hours and be conducted in multiple shifts.
28K students to take exam
Nearly 28,000 students are going to write NEET in the city on May 4. For the first time, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV) will also host the exam in three of its institutes viz IIPS, IET and IMS.
With the move to government institutions, school teachers have been roped in as exam supervisors. A total of 1,338 teachers have been assigned supervisory roles in Indore district and have undergone training at IPS Academy.
However, many are reportedly facing difficulties in understanding the new exam protocols, raising concerns about potential challenges on exam day. Four principals from Kendriya Vidyalaya schools have been appointed as city coordinators to oversee the exam at various locations.
DAVV faces additional strain amid employee strike
Adding to the logistical complexities, DAVV is currently dealing with internal unrest. Employees of the university’s self-finance department began a symbolic strike on Thursday, boycotting work for two hours daily. The strike is expected to continue until May 4, with a full-fledged indefinite strike planned from May 5.
With over 2,000 candidates scheduled to take the exam at DAVV departments, the situation poses a challenge for administrators striving to ensure smooth conduct of the exam.
