The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) for admission to medical courses may differ from September, while a call on the rollout of the Central University Common Entrance Test (CUCET) will be taken after education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s interaction with centrally funded institutions, sources said. The entrance test for MBBS/ BDS courses had been scheduled for August 1, but the registration process was deferred due to the surge in Covid-19 cases in April-May and subsequent lockdown.

The education ministry had on July 6 announced fresh dates for JEE (Main)’s April and May sessions. The April session will be conducted from July 20-25 and the May session (fourth and last) fourth from July 27-August 2.

Amid uncertainty over the date of NEET-UG, social media has been abuzz with fake claims. A “notice” in circulation, which the National Testing Agency clarified later to be fake, claimed that NEET UG would be held on September 5. NTA advised aspirants to wait for the official notification and not pay heed to such fake news circulated by unknown sources.

According to senior government officials, the August 1 date for NEET is no longer feasible and will be postponed.

“The fresh schedule along with guidelines for the online registration process is to be announced next week. The new education minister who took charge on Friday would soon take a review meeting. Thereafter, the dates will be announced by NTA. Consultations are on and the exam is likely to be scheduled in the middle of September,” said the official.

There is also uncertainty among undergraduate aspirants and university administration over the status of CUCET.

“A consultation with the heads of central universities has to take place before a final call is taken. The new education minister is to interact with the vice-chancellors soon and the decision will be taken thereafter,” said the official.