Bengaluru: After successfully conducting SSLC and PUC exams in the State, amid rising number of Covid cases in the region, the Karnataka Government yesterday has decided to conduct the Common Entrance Test (CET) on July 30 and 31 all across the State.

Speaking to reporters yesterday in Bengaluru, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Higher Education Dr. C.N. Ashwathnarayan said, “Last month, we were able to successfully conduct SSLC and PUC exams. The Government would take all precautionary measures to conduct CET as we did during the SSLC and PUC examination. Exams will be held in 497 centres at 120 places for 1,94,356 students across the State on July 30 and 31. In Bengaluru, 83 centres have been set up and 40,200 students will be taking up the exam. The exams will be held from 10.30 am to 11.50 am and 2.30 pm to 3.30 pm.”

“Thirty foreign students will also take the exam. The Kannada Test for students from the border regions in neighbouring States will be held on Aug. 1. The Department has taken all necessary precautionary measures and has framed the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to conduct these exams. Thermal screening, wearing of masks and physical distance will be strictly followed. The exam centres will be sanitised two days prior to the exam dates,” he said.

“Those students who have been tested positive for COVID-19 will also be given the opportunity to write the exam, but there will be separate rooms arranged for them. Students with symptoms of cough, cold and sneezing will also be able to write the examination separately. Arrangements will be made for ambulances as well as transport facilities at all examination centres,” he said.

Stating that students need not get panic, he said, “For those students with positive symptoms and their parents who accompany them to examination centres as well as  foreign students, four-day quarantine relaxation will be given. There is no need to get panic, as they would have undergone all kinds of tests in view of their infection.

PG-CET and Diploma-CET postponed 

He also added that the State Government has decided to postpone the PG-CET and Diploma-CET as the final year degree exams are yet to be held. This year, all procedures including CET counselling and verification of documents will be conducted online.