The Joint Entrance Examinations (JEE) Main for admission to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) has begun amid COVID-19.
The government has gone ahead with the JEE despite protests by Opposition parties and some students.
As many as 8.58 lakh candidates have registered for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE)-Main.
A large section of the students and partners had expressed apprehensions about having to attend the exam amid and an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases.
"I would like to extend my best wishes to you. Dear students, I am very happy that you have done your preparations. I am happy that over 7,77,465 students have downloaded their admit cards. I wish you good luck," Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal said.
But it is not as easy as it sounds for many students. One of the biggest hurdles that many have faced is transport.
Students who have their exam centers in faraway cities and towns had a tough time reaching there due to the lack of public transport in many places.
Minister Pokhiyal had appealed to the chief ministers of various states to support the students.
In Mumbai, the Indian Railways have allowed the JEE and NEET aspirants to travel by Mumbai suburban railways on the examination days. The guardians of these students will also be permitted to travel by Mumbai local trains.
While this is welcome news for many, others especially those who are in the flood-affected areas won't be able to attend the exam.
The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court gathered for urgent hearing on a plea filed by a citizen seeking its postponement for students residing in flood-hit parts of Maharashtra's Vidarbha region. The court allowed the conducting of JEE Mains and issued a directive that those who are affected by flood and are struggling to reach the JEE exam centre shall apply to the appropriate authority, the National Testing Agency (NTA).
Before entering the exam halls, the temperature of students was checked and sanitisers were also given to them in Delhi.
"I am carrying my own sanitiser and I had also undergone a temperature check," said Pranjal while speaking to ANI outside his examination centre at Arwachin Bharti Bhawan Sr Sec School in Vivek Vihar in New Delhi.
Even in Kolkata, candidates appearing for the exam were seen standing in queues while abiding by the social distancing norm at TCS Gitobitan.
In Gorakhpur as well, announcements were being made for the candidates to maintain social distancing and other measures in the wake of COVID 19 spread.
In Kaluchal Chenab College of Education in Jammu, the candidates appearing for the JEE Main exam were standing at a distance for the temperature check and had covered their faces with a mask to contain the spread of the deadly virus.