Students have understandably been on tenterhooks about whether the CLAT will happen on its scheduled date; equally understandably, the consortium has tough if not impossible decisions to make
As of now, the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2020 continues to be scheduled for 22 August though discussions are ongoing between the CLAT consortium’s vice-chancellors (VC) of national law universities (NLU).
The VCs are due to virtually meet again on Wednesday, 5 August, to decide on the best way forward, we understand from multiple sources.
Regarding the scheduling of the exam and besides trying to get the next academic year on the road for freshers (which is normally scheduled to start around early September in many NLUs), there are several concerns that may play on VCs’ minds.
One of the foremost will likely be the 29 July guidelines by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which prohibit “academic… functions and other large congregations”.
We understand that the CLAT has been considering seeking a specific clarification from the central government in this respect, according to one person with knowledge of the process.
But even before the MHA notice, at a previous meeting of the consortium last week, we understand that VCs of NLUs based in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu had expressed apprehensions that severe lockdown restrictions were in place in those states, which could further complicate matters and make holding a physical exam there difficult in August.
And there is no guarantee that other states won’t impose their own measures at short notice, which might have a knock-on effect on the national exam, which is to be conducted in a single session on a single day, unlike the home-proctored exams of SLAT and LSAT-India.
We have reached out to the consortium for formal comment and will update this article if we hear from them, though judging from the CLAT’s official communication channels as of now there is no real news to share (besides the third improved CLAT mock exam having happened over the last weekend).
As of now, it is likely that the consortium’s intent is to stick with the present exam date but continue evaluating this based on circumstances.
And while the CLAT has increased the number of physical test centres to 204 this year, to endeavour to reduce travel and risk as much as possible for candidates, so far it has been nearly impossible to accurately predict the path that the pandemic and counter measures will take.
Sound advice to aspirants might therefore be to keep the 22 August free, but to remain flexible and manage disappointments and/or relief if a postponement is required for public health or logistical reasons.
Meanwhile, there has been no news from NLU Delhi either and how it intends to, like CLAT, hold a separate physical All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) at some unspecified future date after it had planned and then cancelled its 18 August home-proctored test.
Photo by Michael Surran
Comments
The only body which had sensed the scale of this pandemic was UPSC. Straightaway postponed the paper from June to October and now it looks the best decision with almost most of the papers going near the October mark.
I mean how'd you know if there's a meeting or not?
We are going to find ourselves in the same situation if they postpone it to September. Why can't they just act mature and take a decision like UPSC did?
Let's be honest, If the home minister, CM of Karnataka who live in one of the most secured places in the country can get covid-19, then can the consortium (Who is conducting the meeting virtually) guarantee that justice will be served?
Mr. Ganz, is this speculation, or based on a source?
Presently, Public Transport is not working and I as a Poor village guy can't afford 5,000 rs for a trip to my nearest centre.
Another question to consider is — the flood situation in various states. What will they do if the physical centre is underwater? Provide scuba gear? Small cities have only 2 or 3 and in many cases only one such centre where online exams can be given. So it's not like they can create centres out of thin air if those 1/2/3 centres are flooded. Moreover, even if the centre is not flooded transportation would be difficult in such conditions.
It's in the best interest of the students to postpone this exam. Even if some think they have prepared enough (nothing is enough) and would just like to get it over with. While I understand that feeling and I'm saying this at the risk of sounding 'unprepared good- for- nothing' PLEASE POSTPONE THIS EXAM.
There is more to life than this exam.
and all those students who are cursing consortium...just think what would u have done at their place ....i think they cares the most ...and they are trying there level best to make the exam aspirants friendly..i really request to all the students who are in support of CLAT consortium and who agrees with the date 22 august please raise ur voice in support for the consortium...atleast they should get to know that that there are students who really respect there each and every decisions ..and even they know what all problems are going on in the country ..the floods, the lockdowns and everything so they will take the actions accordingly ,we dont have to be in fear ....just think logically don't curse them if u cant support them and for god"s sake let the clat happen on 22nd of august....and those who dont want to have clat on the fixed date so ask for the moneyback and not the postponement ,think about the droppers,they are studying clat since 2 or 3 years so let this happen for them ...and m sure they will never say no for the moneyback.... so ask them for that ...
Based on your views as of now (though I believe in intellectual evolution), it'd be in the best interest of society at large if you give up your judiciary dream. This is a sacrifice you have to make, my friend.
He seems to be a serious aspirant of CLAT who prepared a lot and is frustrated by the constant delays in the exam.
He underestimates the risk of infection and is willing to take that risk.
I totally get where he is coming from about students not being prepared and wanting another postponement.(Lets be real, we know how students think.)
That being said, the threat of infection is very real and no matter what procedures the consortium has in place at the exam center, it just wont be possible to guarantee the safety of every single student. Transportation in this scenario is an issue too.
So let's just wait for an announcement from the Consortium and there is nothing to worry about as of yet because no matter how determined the Consortium is for an exam on 22nd of Aug it just can not bypass government orders.
how can they take this exam on 22 of august!
what about those covid positive studenta who are compulsory home quarentined???
what about students who might carry covid-19 with them but are asymptomatic??????????????????????
Join it.
P. S - vaccinafion will take atleast couple pf years(from the date of launch) to reach each and every one in the country. Until then the cases will be there
It will be very difficult for me and my father to even get out of our house and very little buses run inter district from my area.
Who should I contact to get to the center
Can someone help me.
with the consortium dropping the bomb last november by changing the exam pattern in order to test candidtates on UnDeRsTaNDiNg of the news and current affairs and to be more analytical, I'm sure that the consortium also is actively keeping up with reports of the ever-evolving pandemic and how thier 'safe testing model' is very ineffective.
1)use of thermo guns will be of no use as it cannot detect asymptomatic cases , and this has higher chances as most candidates fall in the age bracket where they dont show any symptoms.
2)sanitization of exam room etc as its written in the official communications sounds very promising but not a very big deal as due to high temperatures covid doesnt last long on surfaces.
3)recent reports suggest that just a sneeze can send potential virus containing air droplets and aerosols upto 20ft or 6m , masks reduce the transmission but do not completely eliminate the risk .
4)the 6ft distance (which is already hard to maintain) won't matter as seen in some cases due to other factors like ventilation, people have gotten infected while having a 14ft distance. also us sitting in a closed space for two hours drastically increases the chance of covid spread
*https://www.healthline.com/health-news/even-asymptomatic-people-can-spread-covid-19-within-a-room#What-the-study-found
*https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2020/4/24/21233226/coronavirus-runners-cyclists-airborne-infectious-dose
5)The home minister , who had countless number of people working round the clock to ensure safety and maintain precautions still got infected. and no number of promises of safety from authorities can ever bring back trust after how we saw KCET was conducted.
while talking about lockdown , containment zones and MHA regulations lets now forget and become oblivious as to why all this is happening , because currently the world is facing a pandemic, a pandemic because of which thousands have died and is deemed as greatest challenge since WW2. And in the middle of all this, if safety is not the first priority for Consortium while conducting CLAT, then its truly very unfortunate.