The Delhi University Entrance Test (DUET) started on Sunday. This year 2,20,000 aspirants have registered. It is for 133 courses across the undergraduate, postgraduate, Phil, and Ph.D. levels.
Twenty four centers have been decided for the same. DUET will be conducted from September 6 to 11. This will be in three shifts- 8 am to 10 am 12 noon to 2 pm, and lastly 4 pm to 6 pm.
Admission to 37 courses will be decided from the exam conducted on Sunday. The 37 courses included MA English, MA Political Science, MCom, MSc Computer Science, and PhD in law.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) administers and executes DUET. DU’s Dean Admission Shobha Bagai reported that the turnout was good. However, she said that the turnout was low for centers outside Delhi. This might be because students would wish to get admission to state universities, she added. Moreover, the DUET aspirants in Delhi had to travel long distances to reach the center.
Sanitation and regulations in DUET 2020
The pandemic has made sanitation a must! However, entrance exams have to be conducted. As a result, sanitation has emerged as an important factor. Sanitizing between the three shifts was one precaution among many. Minimal physical contact was another measure. Applicants were to carry their own water bottles and hand sanitizers.
The DUET Center at Okhla had 200 candidates in the early afternoon shift. While they lined up to enter the venue, their masks were removed. Instead, fresh 3-ply masks were handed. Additionally, at the entrance, their temperature was checked. They left their bags with their companions outside.
Management and other issues
However, other centres presented different issues. Social distancing norms not being followed strictly was a common complaint from students. Lack of Sanitisation was a problem in some DUET centres. The exam started 30 minutes late in Jahangirpuri. Some applicants faced technical issues. However, they were resolved soon.
A lot of students pointed out how managing a large number of students was difficult. Moreover, many were concerned with social distancing not being followed in the pandemic!
