DUET 2020: NTA Succeeds with COVID-19 Protocol on Day-1 with few Misses

National Testing Agency (NTA) successfully maintained all COVID-19 protocol for Delhi University Entrance Test (DUET) on the first day. Students, overall contented with safety measures at the exam centres, however, reported of mismanagement at a few.

Delhi University had its entrance test (DUET 2020) conducted on Sunday (6 September 2020) in 23 cities across the country. More than 2.26 lakh students have registered to appear in the exams from 6-11 September 2020.

Reports claim students were satisfied with the sanitisation measures of exam centres that hosted DUET 2020. Examinees were asked to maintain social distancing norms all throughout. However, students even complained about exam centres that did not follow measures, strictly.

This year, NTA is conducting DUET 2020 for admissions to Delhi University courses (113) including, UG, PG, PhD. Exams are scheduled to be held in three shifts: 8 am-10 am, 12 noon- 2 pm and 4 pm to 6 pm.

A student from Arunachal Pradesh, who appeared from Mahavir Enclave exam centre was satisfied with sanitisation steps. However, another examinee who appeared from Sector 67, Noida said the centre compromised social-distancing norms amid a pandemic.

Meanwhile, a student from Palam also faced technical glitch as servers were down and exams began a half-hour later.

A certain student, Mrityunjay, who received the same centre that he applied for, said adequate measures were followed. However, he complained his friends were not fortunate enough like him. An LLM aspirant at Delhi's Dwarka exam centre pointed out that social-distancing norms were not strictly followed even though staffs sanitised the place frequently.

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He said, "They had a basement where we were made to wait. They were sending people one by one. They were doing a good job but since there was a huge rush, the norms could not be followed to the core. My test centre was in Varanasi but UP has a weekend lockdown. I got my centre shifted to Delhi and they were quite accommodating.”

A student from Kerala who came to Delhi to appear for MA (Political Science) entrance test from Jahangirpuri, said staffs were unskilled to manage crowds. As a result, exams got delayed and began 30 minutes later. The centres had no facility to keep mobile phones and bags and had to be left outside.

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He added, "It was risky since a huge crowd had gathered but we had to take the exam. The officials gave us masks and sanitisers but I felt that there was not adequate social distancing.”

Another student, Sumitra said, "I was really scared about taking the exam but I was really happy with what I saw at my centre in Ghitorni. The staff were quite helpful and guided us well. I didn't realize my computer's mouse was not functioning but the invigilator told me about it and got it changed. All the norms that were to be followed were followed to the core.”