NSUI demands to postpone AIIMS Entrance Exam

Dharshana Kathiresan, INN/Chennai, @infodeaofficial

Congress-affiliated National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) has asked the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) authorities to postpone the PG entrance tests which is scheduled on June 11.

Meanwhile, the examination board of AIIMS has released guidelines that must be followed to enforce social distancing norms during the exams. AIIMS has also made certain alterations in in-practice procedures within the framework of directives and advisories issued by the government regarding COVID-19.

In a statement, the organisation has said, “The decision of AIIMS to conduct PG entrance exam in such a short duration is totally unjustified and it’ll put Students at risk. The pandemic is spreading at a fast rate and in such scenarios it’s foolish to put the lives of medical students in danger.”

Lokesh Chugh, National Secretary, NSUI said in the statement, “The exam center might take all the precautions but still no chances can be taken. On one hand we appreciate the doctors treating COVID-19 patients and on the other hand torturing the medical students who’ll be future doctors by putting exams first before their precious lives.”

The students’ body has also asked the institute to take note of NTA which rescheduled its entrance exams like NCHMCT, JEE 2020 in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

AIIMS’ measures for the entrance exam-

• AIIMS released the admit card for the AIIMS PG entrance exam on June 5.
• In order to minimize travel, AIIMS will be conducting the entrance exam in more than 150 cities. The number of candidates at each examination centre will be 50% less on behalf of social distancing norms.
• AIIMS PG admit card has been altered to include a declaration related to COVID-19. The admit card also has a barcode for touch-free entry.
• The entry time allocation for each candidate will be informed to them through a message or email. The entry of candidates is time staggered to avoid crowding.
• All candidates are required to wear face masks. They shall also be required to follow hand-hygiene procedures at entry, registration, and in the examination hall.
• “At the registration desk, candidates’ faces shall be captured by a camera. Candidates shall sanitize the left thumb with alcohol-based sanitizer before and after marking attendance. The best process of marking attendance with all due sanitization and social distancing measures has been adopted at the Examination Centre,” noted the guidelines from AIIMS.
• Candidates are not required to bring photographs but must carry an ID which will be verified at the registration desk.
• The seating plan will ensure that they are seated six feet apart, by leaving a vacant seat between two candidates.
• The examination hall, desks, other furniture and equipment, washrooms and other rooms associated with the exams will be sanitized.
• Bottled water will be provided to candidates and they should follow due precaution during the consumption of water and disposal of empty bottles.
• “After the completion of the exam, candidates must follow the examiner’s instructions on staggered time exit and submit their admit cards in ballot-type boxes kept at specific locations in the exam center,” stated the guidelines.