In 2017, 94% of the candidates appeared for the medical entrance exam, while in 2018 the attendance was recorded at 97%. Held amid the pandemic, more than 85% of the candidates appeared for the exam in 2020. In 2019, the attendance was 92.7%.
“We are yet to receive the reports from all the centres. But the trend so far, based on most of the center reports we have received, shows over 95% attendance. The cooperation of the state governments has helped us in conducting the exams smoothly,” said National Testing Agency (NTA) Director General Vineet Joshi.
Qualifying entrance test for admission to Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery (BAMS), Bachelor of Siddha Medicine and Surgery (BSMS), Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery (BUMS), and Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) and B.Sc (H) Nursing courses of various medical colleges, including premier medical colleges like AIIMS and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry Huh. Organized in 13 languages.
Two cases of impersonation were detected in Allahabad and Bengaluru.
“In Allahabad, the candidate left the center after discrepancies were detected during document verification. The candidate was caught during random verification by the center supervisor at the Bengaluru center. When the candidate at the center Allahabad felt that he had been caught, he left the centre. Meanwhile, in Bengaluru, the center supervisor, while cross checking with the photo, detected the discrepancy. The candidate then signed an undertaking stating that he was appearing for a candidate,” said an NTA official.
“We are looking at other suspected cases though the number is not high. Might be around 10. If found impersonating, action will be taken against the candidates as per rules,” Joshi said.
Three Covid positive candidates in Kerala were also allowed to be tested on Sunday.
“The students were fine and they were allowed to take the exam in isolation as per the guidelines of the Kerala government,” Joshi said.
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