No earrings, nosepins at NEET: CBSE

For the national medical entrance test or NEET-2, which is to be held on Sunday, the CBSE has imposed extremely strict — and rather strange — restrictions on the candidates to combat cheating.

For example, women candidates have been told not to put on earrings, nosepins, chains, pendants, bracelets, brooches etc. They have been asked to in light half-sleeve clothes without high heels! Male candidates have been asked not to wear shoes or socks. Instead, a regular flip-flop has been recommended. Also, personal belongings such as handbags, goggles and belts will not be allowed inside the premises as there is no guarantee of safe-keeping at exam centres.

As in the case of most entrance tests conducted by CBSE, the Neet will see a strict no for mobile phones, watches, calculators and other electronic gadgets. Two invigilators have been appointed for every 24 candidates and that number is alongside 15 board representatives who will oversee the exam process in Hyderabad.

These steps assume significance in view of Eamcet-2 being embroiled in an alleged leakage row this week.

Hyderabad coordinator for NEET-2 and DAV Principal, Seetha Kiran said these rules have been set in place at all test centres — not just the city.

“This is a sensitive exam because the number of candidates is far higher than the number of seats. All instructions have been conveyed to candidates via e-mail,” she said.

In Hyderabad, 23,000 candidates will be appearing for the test at 29 centres. Ms Seetha Kiran has asked candidates to reach centres as early as 7.30 AM. Even the pen for writing pen will be provided by the board, she said. “Frisking will be done on each candidate to ensure he or she is not carrying items other than those specified. Also ten metal detectors will be placed were provided to each big centres where more than thousand candidates are appearing,” she said.

It may be mentioned here that candidates from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh will be writing NEET-2 for admission to medical and dental courses under management quota in private colleges. Centre has given relaxation for this year to both states to fill convenor quota in government and private medical colleges through the respective Eamcet exams.