Mamata Banerjee: Around 75% aspirants from Bengal unable to appear for JEE due to the pandemic situation

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that 75 per cent of JEE aspirants from the state had been unable to appear for the Joint Entrance Examinations due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation. She said this in response to a question asked to her at Nabanna, the state administrative headquarters.

The second shift of the JEE Main 2020 for BE and BTech aspirants started at 3 pm on Wednesday. The JEE Main 2020, began on September 1. The second shift of JEE Main BE and BTech paper is scheduled from 3 pm to 6 pm. Banerjee however, did not clarify which part of the examination she was referring to. About 8.58 lakh students had registered for the JEE Main this year.

She expressed her disappointment that the Centre had not postponed the JEE and NEET despite appeals made from a section of students and some state governments. The appeal was made requesting postponement of the examinations in view of the current COVID-19 pandemic situation. “I will inform the Centre about the figures and appeal to them to review the situation again in view of those who could not appear for the examinations,” she said.