Breaking: CLAT 2020 to be held on August 22; Computer-based online exam to be held at centres across the country

The Consortium of National Law Universities has decided in a meeting held yesterday that this year's Common Law Admission Test (CLAT 2020) will be held on August 22..The NLU Consortium has also taken a call to extend the last date of applications to July 10..This year's exam will be a computer-based online test held at exam centres across the country. In the notification issued today, the Executive Committee of the NLU Consortium has stated,.Th"At the aforesaid meeting, the EC assessed the feasibility of conducting the Common Law Admission Test, 2020 (the “CLAT 2020”) through various modes. It concluded that an off-line test, as initially contemplated, would require large scale movement of students to limited centres, and significant logistics in the handling of question papers and answer scripts, which is not possible during the prevalent pandemic conditions. Further, an on-line test at home with technological measures cannot ensure transparency, fairness and integrity of a high stakes examination process or maintain equitable access to necessary facilities. Hence, the EC concluded that an on-line test at a large number of centres compliant with physical distancing and public health safety prescriptions is in the best interests of the health and safety of candidates and test administrators.".Accompanying the latest notification is an advisory on conduct of a Social Distanced Computer Based Testing (SD-CBT). This method, the release states, has been created after taking inputs from prominent health experts to validate the procedures/processes that need to be followed at various stages of an exam in order to address the possible threats presented by COVID-19. The instructions for the same are as follows:.Staff will be deployed for Crowd Management and orderly movement.Staff with Thermo Guns will be present at entry gateSufficient cleaning staff, center administrators and invigilators with face masks and hand gloveswill be deployed.Spray machines with disinfectant liquid will be used to sanitize examination centers thoroughly.Sufficient hand sanitizer and hand soap will be present across the test centers and washrooms.Candidates with fever or COVID symptoms will not be permitted inside the exam venue. A separate isolation lab will be set up to accommodate these candidates.PPE kits will be made available for staff in isolation labs.3 ply masks and gloves will be provided to isolated candidates.Further, all candidates who register a temperature more than 99.14 F will have to take the examination in the isolation lab. Candidates will be allowed to bring masks, gloves, and hand sanitiser..The full list of examination centres will be notified by July 1..Candidates who have previously registered for CLAT 2020 may also withdraw their applications. The application fee shall be refunded after deducting Rs. 400 for SC/ST candidates and Rs. 500 for all other candidates. Refunds will be made by July 18..The notification further states,."The Consortium shall issue detailed guidance with respect to the protocols and modalities of the computer-based, online, centre-based mechanism of the CLAT 2020 for all candidates to aid their preparations for the examination. The Consortium will also conduct mock exams for all registered candidates to build familiarity with the test application and interface.".It also states that the examination for LL.M. will not have a descriptive section this year..The notification concludes,."The Consortium appreciates the patience and support of the CLAT 2020 candidate community, and reassures them of its commitment towards conducting the CLAT 2020 in a manner that ensures the integrity and credibility of the examination, as well as the health and safety of all candidates appearing for the examination."CLAT Consortium.CLAT 2020, which was initially scheduled to take place on May 10, was postponed to May 24 in light of the COVID-19 pandemic..CLAT 2020 postponed due to Coronavirus, to be held on May 24.The NLU Consortium later took a call to postpone the exam to June 21. Most recently, it was decided that a fresh date for CLAT 2020 would be decided by July 1..Breaking: CLAT 2020 postponed again, last date for online applications extended to July 1.[Read the notification].[Read the protocol for SD-CBT]