New Delhi, Apr 30 (IANS): Keeping in view the hardships being faced by candidates during the COVID-19 lockdown, the Ministry of Human Resource Development has decided to extend the date of online application forms submission for various entrance exams including JNU, IGNOU Ph.D and Hotel Management.

Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said: "The Director General of National Testing Agency (NTA) has been advised to extend the last date for submission of online applications for various examinations".

Nishank said , "This includes entrance examinations conducted by JNU, IGNOU Ph.D, ICAR exam, NCHM G and management course."

According to an order issued by the NTA the date of filling the form for the entrance examinations of Jawaharlal Nehru University has been extended till May 15. The date of filling the form of the National Council for Hotel Management 'G' has also been extended till May 15.

Similarly, the date for submitting the form for Ph.D and MBA from IGNOU has been extended from April 30 to May 15 as has the date for the Indian Council for Agricultural Research. The All India AYUSH Post Graduate Entrance Test form can be filled till June 5.

The Ministry of Human Resource Development has also directed the CBSE, NIOS and NTA to prepare a revised schedule of examinations. Along with this, autonomous bodies and NCERT have been asked to prepare an alternative academic calendar.

In view of the lockdown, the central government has also decided to postpone the NEET examinations. Admission cards were to be issued for NEET examinations, but these were not issued and the Ministry issued a notice to postpone the exams.

Students will no longer have to travel to other cities to write the entrance exams. This facility will be provided for the entrance examination of various academic programmes including the main entrance examination of 'G'. The NTA has made the necessary provisions for this.