Punjab: CEO asked to step in as election rehearsal date conflicts with NEET test

The Punjabi government employees assigned to poll duty for the Lok Sabha election have pleaded with the Election Commission to address the conflict between their wards’ NEET (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test) exam date and the poll rehearsal date. The dates of both events are set on May 5.

In a letter to Punjab’s Chief Electoral Officer, a number of public servants serving in different election-related capacities have implored the commission to recommend that District Election Officers postpone the exercise so that it does not coincide with May 5.

These workers fear that if the National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted poll rehearsals and the NEET exam at the same time, it would interfere with the seamless operation of both events since many workers would have to be assigned to NEET testing locations. Furthermore, since the test is only being held in 16 cities around the state, a significant number of electoral duty staff would also need to transport their wards to far-off locations.

On May 5, the National Testing organization, the nodal national testing organization, will administer the NEET exam for admission to all Punjabi medical institutions. On May 5, there are also training sessions for the election duty personnel, and many parents had intended to bring their children to test centers.

These parents have now asked ECI to step in and avert a conflict between the exam date and the rehearsal date.