NEET 2019: Implementation of Guidelines for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities

New Delhi: Through a recent notification, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has informed about the guidelines which are going to be implemented for conducting NEET 2019 for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities.

These guidelines are adopted nationwide for all the examinees and for this year, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has conveyed that the "Guidelines for conducting written Examination for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities 2018" issued by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment may be implemented for NEET 2019.

In compliance of implementing these guidelines, these below-mentioned guidelines would be scrupulously followed by the NEET 2019 exam conducting body NTA for disabled candidates, who will require a scribe to write the examination.

1. There should be a uniform and comprehensive policy across the country for persons with benchmark disabilities for written examination taking into account improvement in technology and new avenues opened to the persons with benchmark disabilities providing a level playing field. The policy should also have the flexibility to accommodate the specific needs on a case-to-case basis.


2. There is no need for fixing Separate criteria for regular and competitive examinations.


3. The facility of Scribe/Reader/Lab Assistant should be allowed to any person with benchmark disability as defined under section 2(r) of the RPwD Act, 2016 and has limitation in writing including that of speed if so desired by him/her. In the case of persons with benchmark disabilities in the category of blindness, locomotor disability (both arm affected-BA) and cerebral palsy, the facility of scribe/reader/lab assistant shall be given. if so desired by the person. In case of another category of persons with benchmark disabilities, the provision of scribe/reader/lab assistant can be allowed on production of a certificate to the effect that the person concerned has physical limitation to write, and scribe is essential to write examination on his behalf, from the Chief Medical Officer/Civil Surgeon/ Medical Superintendent of a Government health care institution as per proforma at APPENDIX-I.


4. The candidate should have the discretion of opting for his own scribe/reader/lab assistant or request the Examination Body for the same. ‘The examining body may also identify the scribe/ reader/lab assistant to make panels at the District/Division/ State level as per the requirements of the examination, In such instances the candidates should be allowed to meet the scribe two days before the examination so that the candidates get a chance to check and verify ¥ whether the scribe is suitable or not,


5. In case the examining body provides the scribe/reader/lab assistant, it shall be ensured that qualification of the scribe should not be more than the minimum qualification criteria of the examination, However, the qualification of the scribe/reader should always be matriculated or above. In case the candidate is allowed to bring his own scribe, the qualification of the scribe should be one step below the qualification of the candidate taking the examination. The persons with benchmark disabilities opting for own scribe/reader should submit details of their own scribe as per proforma at APPENDIX-Il


6. There should also be Flexibility in accommodating any change inscribe/reader/lab assistant in case of emergency, ‘The candidates should also be allowed to take more than one scribe/reader for writing different papers, especially for languages. However, there can be only one scribe per subject.


7. Persons with benchmark disabilities should be given, as far as possible, the option of choosing the mode for taking the examinations ie. in Braille or in the computer or in large print or even by recording the answers as the examining bodies can easily make use of technology to convert question paper in large prints, e-text, or Braille and can also convert Braille text in English or regional languages.


8. In case, the persons with benchmark disabilities are allowed to take the examination on the computer system, they should be allowed to check the computer system one-day m advance so that the problems if any in the software/system could be rectified. Use of own computer/laptop should not be allowed for taking the examination. However, enabling accessories for the computer-based examinations such as the keyboard, customized mouse etc should be allowed.


9. The procedure of availing the facility of the scribe should be simplified and the necessary details should be recorded at the time of filling up of the forms. Thereafter, the examining body should ensure availability of question papers in the format opted by the candidate as well as suitable seating arrangement for giving the examination.


10. The disability certificate issued by the competent medical authority at any place should be accepted across the country.


11. The word “extra time or additional time” that is being currently used should be changed to “compensatory time” and the same should not be less than 20 minutes per hour of examination for persons who are allowed the use of scribe/reader/lab assistant. All the candidates with benchmark disability not availing the facility of the scribe may be allowed additional time of minimum of one hour for the examination of 3 hours duration, in case the duration of the examination ts less than an hour, then the duration of additional time should be allowed on pro-rata basis. Additional time should not be less than 5 minutes and should be in the multiple of 5.


12. The candidates should be allowed to use assistive devices like talking calculator (in cases where calculators are allowed for giving exams), tailor frame, Braille slate, abacus, geometry kit, Braille measuring tape and augmentative communication devices like communication chair and electronic devices.


13. Proper seating arrangement (preferably on the ground floor) should be made prior to the commencement of examination to avoid confusion or distraction during the day of the exam, The time of giving the question papers should be marked accurately and timely supply of supplementary papers should be ensured.


14. As far as possible, the examining body should also provide reading material in Braille or E-Text or on computers having suitable screen reading software for open book examination. Similarly, the online examination should be inaccessible formal ie. websites, question papers and all other study material should be accessible as per the international standards laid down in this regard.


15. Alternative objective questions in lieu of descriptive questions should be provided for Hearing-Impaired persons, in addition to the existing policy of giving alternative questions in lieu of questions requiring visual inputs, for persons with Visual impairment.


16. As far as possible the examination for persons with disabilities should be held at the ground floor, The examination centres should be accessible for persons with disabilities.

Read Also: What to wear, What to carry for NEET 2019 exam day: Check out Dress Code, Barred Items

For more details or regular updates click on the original website of NTA is given below:

https://ntaneet.nic.in/Ntaneet/Welcome.aspx